Review PUNCHESTOWN 28TH APR

Beef Or Salmon thrilled a large crowd, many of whom helped send him off 5/4 favourite, with a performance right out of the top drawer in the Grade 1 E180,000 Heineken Gold Cup.

Jumping really well in the hands of Timmy Murphy, Michael Hourigan's stable star led before the last and without his rider ever raising his stick, the 8yo lengthened away for a 4L win.

Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up, Harbour Pilot was again the bridesmaid here, the easy-to-back 3/1 chance probably finding the good going a little too lively.

Coming back to a wonderful round of applause, Beef Or Salmon got an immediate quote of 10/1 (from 14s) from Paddy Powers for next year's blue riband.

Hourigan had no doubt about where the credit lay for the improved jumping from his chestnut namely, intensive work on his back by physio, Liz Kent whilst daughter Kay and Sue Shortt came in for praise also.

Noel Meade, trainer of Harbour Pilot, gained healthy recompense for that defeat as he saddled a double, including a first and third in the Champion bumper.

Heavily backed 9/4 favourite, Definate Spectacle initiated the brace by easily landing the 4yo winners of 1 for Paul Carberry.

Geill Sli meanwhile, with Alan Crowe up, struck the front a furlong out and held the strongly supported 6/4 market-leader, Blazing Liss by a length and a half with stable companion, Augherskea back in third.

Mark Watts (25), rode his first winner as a professional (2 wins in the amateur ranks), when Hurry Bob struck for home before the straight and had enough in reserve to hold on by three parts of a length.

Paddy Mullins trains the 20/1 shot, who made a successful career debut in a 4yo bumper at this meeting back in 1999. Training problems since have restricted the 9yo to just one win in the meantime.

Punters began the day in better form with Willie Mullins supplying Arch Stanton, the 2/1 favourite for the novice hurdle, Ruby Walsh's mount justifying his market position with a 3 1/2L victory.

Sixth in the Supreme Novices' and a shade unlucky when runner-up at Fairyhouse last time, the Flat-bred travelled well to pick up the running at the last before going away for a convincing success.

Jessica Harrington only has Willie The Shoe in her care for the past 10 days and she drew a quick dividend on the Tom Doran-owned gelding when the 5/1 'jolly' took the opener.

A strong finishing second on his last outing for Michael Hourigan at Cork over Easter, the 7yo stayed on well from the last in the hands of Barry Geraghty to beat Stutter by a length.

Elsewhere, outsider, Prince Of Pleasure put in a bold display of jumping from the front under Danny Howard to triumph in the h'cap chase for David Broad.

An dramatic conclusion to the closing champion hunters chase saw General Montcalm part company with his rider at the last when looking an assured winner, Just Cassandra the one there to benefit.