IRISH HANDICAPPER IMPRESSED WITH BEEF OR SALMON Ireland`s latest chasing star Beef Or Salmon which powered home in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas has Irish NH handicapper Noel O`Brien on a high. O`Brien revealed that his assessment of the six-year-old will be higher than any novice in his career as a Turf Club handicapper as trainer Michael Hourigan indicated that come March Beef Or Salmon could contest the Gold Cup at Cheltenham. The Michael Hourigan-trained star romped home by six lengths from Colonel Braxton with two previous winners of the race in arrears at the Dublin track on Saturday 28th December. 'He is an exceptional horse and what was striking for me was the manner of his win,' said O`Brien. 'It was a good race - the second and third were last season's top Irish staying novice chasers.' 'I would put him 10-14lb behind Best Mate, who is on a mark of 170, but his rating would still be the highest for a novice in Ireland in my 21 years' handicapping,' O`Brien revealed. Beef Or Salmon is set to reappear for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup back at Leopardstown on February 9.
