Beef still on course for Irish National Beef Or Salmon was today confirmed still on target to shoulder top-weight in Monday´s Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. The veteran 12-year-old finished fifth behind The Listener at Leopardstown last month and, if turning out again for the Easter Monday showpiece, would be bidding to emulate Flashing Steel in 1995, the last horse to carry top-weight to victory in the ?250,000 event. Trainer Michael Hourigan, said of his stable star: "He has been doing a lot of swimming and all the right things since his run in the Hennessy. "Giving weight away to all his rivals is obviously not ideal but the likelihood of soft ground would suit our horse and possibly hinder some of the others so with a bit of luck, he´ll put up a good show."
