Irish Greats: The Beef Or Salmon Story Beef Or Salmon was one of the first true Irish chasing stars of this century, captivating the hearts and minds of the racing public during a prolonged stint at the top of the game on home soil. He was hugely popular with punters and had a large following but every one of Beef Of Salmon's career wins came in Ireland and his inability to succeed on UK soil became deeply frustrating despite some good efforts in defeat in Haydock's Betfair Chase. At Cheltenham, a heavy fall in his first-ever Gold Cup appearance was to prove defining of his frustrations in the Cotswolds. Despite it all and his propensity for inconsistency, 'The Beef' also showed an unwavering willingness to rebound from racecourse disappointments to provide further moments of glory. From humble beginnings, a star emerges Michael Hourigan bought Beef Or Salmon at the June National Hunt sale in Goffs in 2000 for the princely sum of £6,500. His breeding didn't suggest that he had acquired a star in the making but, clearly, Hourigan spotted something and he was to be proved a shrewd judge. He won a point-to-point at Clonmel in November 2001, and was a 15-length winner at the same track in a bumper. Another bumper followed at Cork in January 2002 and an opening hurdles win at Gowran Park was achieved a little over two weeks later. His hurdling technique had some quirks and while he ran three more times that season, it was to the larger obstacles where Hourigan was placing his faith in Beef Or Salmon's ability shining through. Rapid ascent as a novice An easy win on the Flat at Galway in October 2002 precipitated a good third in the November Handicap at Leopardstown as excitement grew for his chasing bow. It came at Clonmel in late November as he beat seasoned chasers such as Sackville, Alcapone, Cregg House and Moscow Express in the Grade 2 Morris Oil Chase. He won Cork's Hilly Way Chase on his second start and Leopardstown's three-mile Grade 1 at Christmas that year, making light work of his inexperience against seasoned performers. A Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown followed in February before Hourigan opted to tackle the Gold Cup at Cheltenham before he had even completed one season as a chaser. The stiff fences at Prestbury Park caught him out and he went down in a heavy fall early in the race as Best Mate won. Many observers felt the effects of that tumble were long-lasting and, from that point on, Beef Or Salmon was capable of brilliance and frustration in equal measure, with his army of followers never quite sure what would be on the menu when he turned up. Grade 1 haul speaks volumes His career ended with 10 victories at Grade 1 level amongst his 19 career wins. He ruled the roost in the Irish staying chasing ranks with his wins, including three Irish Gold Cups and three Lexus Chases (now Savills Chase) at Leopardstown's big Christmas meeting. His 2004 defeat of Best Mate at the Foxrock venue was hugely memorable, while his second to The Listener in 2006 was one of his disappointments, though he soon avenged it in the Irish Gold Cup the following spring in what proved the final win of his career. He also won Grade 1 at Punchestown in the John Durkan Memorial Chase and in Down Royal's Champion Chase, counting the likes of Kicking King and War Of Attrition amongst his vanquished rivals. Disappointment in Britain a constant Sadly for Beef Or Salmon, he never really showed his best in Britain, and his first Cheltenham Gold Cup laid the pattern in the Cotswolds. He was fourth behind Best Mate in 2004 and ran in five Gold Cups all told but he was never competitive after his second attempt, despite many predictions of 'this being his year'. His final run in the Blue Riband was in 2007 as Kauto Star won, with Beef Or Salmon 35-lengths behind in 13th. He also ran in three Betfair Chases at Haydock from 2005-2007, a close second to Kingscliff in the first and then twice second/third in remote fashion as Kauto Star dominated on Merseyside.
