Down Royal Champion Chase Legendary Winners: Beef Or Salmon One of the most popular horses of his generation, few horses captured the hearts of racing fans whilst also frustrating with some significantly below-par displays when heading over to Britain as Beef Or Salmon. He won 10 Grade 1 races in Ireland and most will feel it could have been more. Michael Hourigan trained the strapping chestnut and the ground could never be soft enough for him, winning five of his seven starts on heavy ground. This horse had a great constitution and lined up in almost all of Ireland’s big staying chases every season. We’re going to take a look back at his distinguished career, which included three victories apiece in both the Lexus Chase and Hennessy Gold Cup. The early days Bred by John Murphy, Beef Or Salmon was the only progeny of US-bred stallion Cajetano and his dam, Farinella, failed to place in her only start. That means he managed to defy his pretty average pedigree to become a star staying chaser. Beef Or Salmon was a faller on his first point-to-point start but made amends by winning his second. Michael Hourigan’s gelding started his career under rules in a Fairyhouse bumper back in May 2001, where he was ridden by then 3lb claimer Davy Russell. He bolted up at Clonmel on his next start, pulling 15 lengths clear of the runner-up, before winning again at Cork a couple of starts later. Connections didn’t waste too much time over hurdles but he did manage to win two of his eight starts over timber. Chasing is the name of the game The decision was made to go chasing the following season and he quickly got off to a flying start, winning his first four races over fences. Those successes came over various trips and he was an impressive winner of the Ericsson Chase on just his third chase start. Hourigan didn’t even consider novice chases and he was thrown straight into open company on chasing debut at Clonmel and he duly obliged. A first foray into Britain was next on the agenda but he didn’t make it any further than the third fence in the Gold Cup that year. He returned to winning ways in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown the following season and even won the Hilly Way Chase over an inadequate trip next time. Best Mate got the better of him at Leopardstown and Cheltenham but he did earn his sole Punchestown Gold Cup success a month later. Career highlights Beef Or Salmon beat plenty of notable horses during his career and he was a very talented horse on his day. He was too good for subsequent King George and Gold Cup hero Kicking King at Down Royal in the 2004 James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase, although that rival did gain his revenge in the John Durkan next time. Finally getting the better of old rival Best Mate in the 2004 Lexus Chase, he also beat 2006 Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition a couple of times, most notably in the 2005 Lexus Chase. His final success came in the 2007 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, where he beat The Listener by just shy of a length, staying on well to collar his rival late on. Final season and retirement The popular chaser embarked on his final campaign during the 2007/2008 season and the many miles on the clock were clearing catching up. He didn’t owe anyone anything and was retired after finishing sixth behind Neptune Collonges at Punchestown.
