Beef or Salmon
Encyclopedia
Beef or Salmon was a multiple Grade 1 winning National Hunt racehorse. He was trained in Ireland
by Michael Hourigan and owned by B J Craig. He was most famous for never winning a race outside of Ireland
and for defeating three Cheltenham Gold Cup
winners in Best Mate
, Kicking King
and War of Attrition
and also for his defeat of the 2005 Grand National
Winner, Hedgehunter
.
at Clonmel, before finishing second at Fairyhouse. Beef or Salmon went on to run seven more times that season, winning twice.
and the Hilly Way Chase
. He followed that up with two wins at the highest level in the Lexus Chase
and Irish Hennessy Chase. He then went to the Cheltenham Festival
, where he contested the Cheltenham Gold Cup
. It was a much anticipated clash between Beef or Salmon and Best Mate
, but Beef or Salmon fell as Best Mate
won. He ended the season with victory in April in a Flat race at the Curragh. It was a brilliant season for the horse considering he was a novice chaser.
. But he bounced back to his best in his next two starts, winning both the John Durkan Memorial Chase
and the Hilly Way Chase
. December 2003 saw Beef or Salmon come up against Best Mate
again, and Best Mate
again came out on top as Beef or Salmon could only finish third. His next run saw him cross the shores again, but he could only finish fourth behind Best Mate
in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
. He ended the season on a winning note however, as he took the Punchestown Gold Cup
.
in the John Durkan Memorial Chase
. His next start saw Beef or Salmon finally beat Best Mate
in the Lexus Chase
. He again disappointed in his next start as he finished second behind Rule Supreme in the Irish Hennessy Chase, before being pulled up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
, which was won by Kicking King
.
. His next two starts however, saw Beef or Salmon bounce back to his brilliant best with wins in the Lexus Chase
and the Irish Hennessy Chase. These wins saw Beef or Salmon start off the 4/1 favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup
, but he could only finish 11th behind War Of Attrition. He then unseated his rider, Paul Carberry
in the Totesport Bowl
at Aintree before finishing third in a hurdle race at Fairyhouse. In his final race of the season, Beef or Salmon returned to something like his best, as he finished second behind War Of Attrition in the Punchestown Gold Cup
.
and will be fondly remembered by racing fans.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
by Michael Hourigan and owned by B J Craig. He was most famous for never winning a race outside of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and for defeating three Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
winners in Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
, Kicking King
Kicking King
Kicking King is a National Hunt racehorse trained in Ardclough, Co. Kildare, Ireland, by Tom Taaffe. He is best known for his victory in the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the major Chase run at the Cheltenham Festival...
and War of Attrition
War Of Attrition (horse)
War Of Attrition is a National Hunt racehorse and winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2006....
and also for his defeat of the 2005 Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
Winner, Hedgehunter
Hedgehunter
Hedgehunter is an Irish race horse, who won the 2005 Grand National steeplechase, ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by Willie Mullins. He had fallen at the final fence the previous year when well placed. He then finished second in 2006 to Numbersixvalverde...
.
Early career
He made his racecourse debut in May 2001 at Fairyhouse, where he finished third in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper. He did not race again till November 2001, where he won a National Hunt flat raceNational Hunt flat race
National Hunt Flat races, informally known as Bumper races, are flat races run under National Hunt racing rules in Britain and Ireland....
at Clonmel, before finishing second at Fairyhouse. Beef or Salmon went on to run seven more times that season, winning twice.
2002/03 Season
He made a winning seasonal reappearance in October at Galway, and following that he immediately had his sights set higher as he went on to win the Clonmel Oil ChaseClonmel Oil Chase
The Clonmel Oil Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Clonmel over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in November....
and the Hilly Way Chase
Hilly Way Chase
The Hilly Way Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run at Cork Racecourse in December, over a distance of 2 miles.The race was first run in 2001 as a Grade 3 race, before being awarded Grade 2 status in 2003.-Records:...
. He followed that up with two wins at the highest level in the Lexus Chase
Lexus Chase
The Lexus Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
and Irish Hennessy Chase. He then went to the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
, where he contested the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
. It was a much anticipated clash between Beef or Salmon and Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
, but Beef or Salmon fell as Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
won. He ended the season with victory in April in a Flat race at the Curragh. It was a brilliant season for the horse considering he was a novice chaser.
2003/04 Season
He started the 2003/04 season a beaten odds on favourite as he finished third behind Edredon Bleu in the Clonmel Oil ChaseClonmel Oil Chase
The Clonmel Oil Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Clonmel over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in November....
. But he bounced back to his best in his next two starts, winning both the John Durkan Memorial Chase
John Durkan Memorial Chase
The John Durkan Memorial Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs at Punchestown in December.The race was first run in 1968 and it was run over a distance of 2 miles until 1973...
and the Hilly Way Chase
Hilly Way Chase
The Hilly Way Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run at Cork Racecourse in December, over a distance of 2 miles.The race was first run in 2001 as a Grade 3 race, before being awarded Grade 2 status in 2003.-Records:...
. December 2003 saw Beef or Salmon come up against Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
again, and Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
again came out on top as Beef or Salmon could only finish third. His next run saw him cross the shores again, but he could only finish fourth behind Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
. He ended the season on a winning note however, as he took the Punchestown Gold Cup
Punchestown Gold Cup
The Punchestown Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
.
2004/05 Season
The 2004/05 season started in the best fashion for Beef or Salmon, as he won the JNwine.com Champion Chase. He could only finish third on his next start though, behind Kicking KingKicking King
Kicking King is a National Hunt racehorse trained in Ardclough, Co. Kildare, Ireland, by Tom Taaffe. He is best known for his victory in the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the major Chase run at the Cheltenham Festival...
in the John Durkan Memorial Chase
John Durkan Memorial Chase
The John Durkan Memorial Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs at Punchestown in December.The race was first run in 1968 and it was run over a distance of 2 miles until 1973...
. His next start saw Beef or Salmon finally beat Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
in the Lexus Chase
Lexus Chase
The Lexus Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
. He again disappointed in his next start as he finished second behind Rule Supreme in the Irish Hennessy Chase, before being pulled up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
, which was won by Kicking King
Kicking King
Kicking King is a National Hunt racehorse trained in Ardclough, Co. Kildare, Ireland, by Tom Taaffe. He is best known for his victory in the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the major Chase run at the Cheltenham Festival...
.
2005/06 Season
The 2005/06 season proved to a busy but mixed campaign for Beef or Salmon. He started with a spin on the Flat, as finished ninth in the Irish Cesarewitch in October, before he came to Haydock and finished second behind Kingscliff in the Betfair ChaseBetfair Chase
The Betfair Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt Steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
. His next two starts however, saw Beef or Salmon bounce back to his brilliant best with wins in the Lexus Chase
Lexus Chase
The Lexus Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
and the Irish Hennessy Chase. These wins saw Beef or Salmon start off the 4/1 favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
, but he could only finish 11th behind War Of Attrition. He then unseated his rider, Paul Carberry
Paul Carberry
Paul Carberry is an Irish National Hunt jockey.- Background :He was born on 9 February 1974. He hails from a racing family. He is the son of jockey Tommy Carberry, who was a famous National Hunt jockey in the 1960s and 1970s. His uncle is Arthur Moore, one of Ireland's leading National Hunt trainers...
in the Totesport Bowl
Totesport Bowl
The Totesport Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...
at Aintree before finishing third in a hurdle race at Fairyhouse. In his final race of the season, Beef or Salmon returned to something like his best, as he finished second behind War Of Attrition in the Punchestown Gold Cup
Punchestown Gold Cup
The Punchestown Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
.
Final Two Seasons
His final two seasons saw Beef or Salmon run in the top races in England and Ireland and he recorded three wins. He won the JNwine.com Champion Chase again, and also recorded a final victory in the Irish Hennessy Chase, much to the delight of fans, as he rallied to beat The Listener. He was retired after running in the 2008 Punchestown Gold CupPunchestown Gold Cup
The Punchestown Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
and will be fondly remembered by racing fans.