No final decision will be taken about a Cheltenham target for Beef Or Salmon until the final days before the Festival, his trainer Michael Hourigan confirmed yesterday.

The seven-year-old novice put himself in the picture for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup with a clear-cut victory over more-experienced rivals in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown last month.

As a result his Gold Cup price tumbled and connections initially expressed the desire to see him tackle chasing's blue riband prize, a race for which he is currently second-favourite in most lists.

But an alternative entry has also been made for Beef Or Salmon in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase and Hourigan's charge could yet line up in either race.

''We'll play it by ear, nothing will be certain until we get there,'' said Hourigan.

Beef Or Salmon's next outing will be a return trip to Leopardstown in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup next month.

''There haven't been any headaches since the Ericsson and although the ground over here is bad enough at the moment it doesn't bother him at all,'' the trainer added.

''He's fine and I'm looking forward to running him again.''