Perfect Ten For Beef

[Andy07]

Beef Or Salmon raised the roof at Leopardstown as he recorded a remarkable 10th Grade One success with a last-gasp victory in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

But the landmark, achieved only by the likes of Moscow Flyer in recent times, looked beyond Michael Hourigan's pride and joy when The Listener turned into the straight fully eight lengths to the good.

He had chased home Robert Alner's gallant grey in the Lexus Chase in December and a repeat result seemed on the cards when Daryl Jacob kicked his mount well clear with over half a mile to run.

However, Andrew McNamara refused to give in and kept on pushing the 11-year-old - who was sporting blinkers for the first time - in the hope The Listener would tire.

A few anxious looks over his shoulder gave the impression that all was not quite as well as it seemed for Jacob on the 9-10 favourite, although he still scrambled over the last with a clear advantage.

And halfway up the run-in it became apparent The Listener was running on empty and Beef Or Salmon found more for pressure to win by three-quarters of a length.

The winner returned to rapturous applause and there could not have been a more popular result.

I've always wondered if horses know just how good they are or if they think its just one big fun day out. I watched the race live on tv, very exciting stuff and the Irish crowd were going crazy. :D