Fresh from his defeat of the Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition earlier in the month, Beef Or Salmon is set to try and finally break his British hoodoo at Haydock on Saturday.
The nine-time Grade One winner has never managed to show his top form across channel but came closest to ending that unfortunate losing sequence when runner-up to Kingscliff in last year's Betfair Chase.
Trainer Michael Hourigan yesterday indicated he will send Beef Or Salmon for another crack at the valuable race which opens up the possibility of a £1 million bonus for the horse that can win at Haydock and then add the King George and the Gold Cup.
Hourigan also has Church Island among the 14-strong entry for Saturday's feature event but said yesterday Beef Or Salmon is the more likely starter.
"It looks like Salmon will go. He has come out of the Down Royal race really well and he will be going over this year with a run over fences behind him," he said.
Andrew McNamara has been on the sidelines since Thursday with concussion and bruising to his left arm picked up at Thurles but Hourigan expects the young jockey to be available to try and make it two from two over fences on Beef Or Salmon.
The Irish star is again likely to face Kingscliff at the weekend but is also set to clash with the rising star among British-trained chasers as the former top two-miler Kauto Star is scheduled to race over three miles for the first time.
On the home front, the main weekend action will be on Sunday when the champion hurdler Brave Inca will reappear for his first start of the season in the Morgiana Hurdle.
The Colm Murphy-trained star kicked off his championship winning season last year with victory in the same race at Punchestown and is set to again clash with his old rival Harchibald in Sunday's highlight.
Noel Meade has confirmed that Harchibald is on target for the race but Murphy said yesterday his stable star may well be further forward in terms of his fitness than he was at this time in 2005.
"Things have gone really well. He will do one more piece in the morning and then he will be as ready as we can have him first time," Murphy said.
"If anything, he could be a little bit more forward this time. I think the race is a little later this year and the way it has worked out has been good."
Tony McCoy is again expected to team up with the teak-tough champion and Murphy is hoping the forecast heavy rain during this week doesn't leave ground conditions too testing at the weekend.
"He will go on very soft ground but we know he jumps and travels a lot better on decent going," he said.
The top event at Punchestown on Saturday is the Grade Three Irish Field Chase and the Michael O'Leary-owned Mossbank, surprisingly beaten at Cork on his second start over fences, will take his chance in the two-and-three-quarter-mile race.
Noel Meade has four of the other 10 entries, including the course winner Mattock Ranger, while Philip Fenton is considering the race for his Galway winner, Vic Venturi.
Murphy's focus this weekend will be on Brave Inca but he also issued an upbeat report yesterday on the progress of his other top hurdler Feathard Lady who sustained a leg injury earlier in the season.
"She is back walking and we are looking to have her back cantering by Christmas. Hopefully we will be able to get a race into her before Cheltenham," the Co Wexford trainer said.
Horse Racing Ireland yesterday released the nominees for their Horse Of Year Award and Cashmans of Cork believe the Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition is the most likely to pick up the prize. Mouse Morris's horse is 4 to 5 favourite.
Cashmans bet on Horse Racing Ireland's Horse Of The Year: 4-5 War Of Attrition, 3 Brave Inca, 5 Teofilo, Newmill and George Washington, 14 Dylan Thomas.
