WHILE Alex Ferguson prepares for his Champions League quarter-final with Inter Milan, he could be forgiven for taking 10 minutes out of his day to watch What A Friend in the RSA Chase today.

Ante-post gamble Rince Ri has been ruled out of the Martell Cognac Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

Reigning champions Best Mate, Rooster Booster, Moscow Flyer and Baracouda were declared to go forward to defend their Cheltenham Festival titles following yesterday’s forfeit stage for the nine championship races.

Veteran staying hurdler Limestone Lad is reported to be on course to return next season.

WILLIE MULLINS yesterday confirmed that Florida Pearl has emerged fit and well from his historic victory at Leopardstown on Sunday and will now bid to win the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup at the fourth attempt.

Willie Mullins today confirmed that Florida Pearl has emerged fit and well from his historic victory at Leopardstown yesterday and will now bid to win the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup at the fourth attempt.

BY any standards, Florida Pearl’s victory in yesterday’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown was an extraordinary performance.

Keen Leader, seen by many as the main danger to Best Mate recording an historic third success in chasing’s blue riband at Cheltenham in March, has been installed a hot favourite for the Hennessy Gold Cup on Sunday week.

Florida Pearl heads 12 entries for what looks set to be a cracking renewal of the Servo Computer Services' Ascot Chase on Saturday.

OWNER David Johnson yesterday refused to rule out a tilt at the Tote Cheltenham Gold with his promising novice Therealbandit.

Florida Pearl did his chances of lining up for another tilt at the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup no harm when pleasing Willie Mullins in a piece of work with stablemates Adamant Approach, Macs Gildoran and Killultagh Thunder.

Moscow Flyer remains unchanged as 11-4 favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Coral following a comfortable victory at Punchestown today.

GOWRAN PARK, which has been hugely re-developed, threw open its gates to the press yesterday and three handlers, Michael Bowe, Willie Mullins and Frances Crowley availed of the opportunity to gallop some of their stars.

WILLIE MULLINS reports Florida Pearl and Davenport Milenium none the worse for their exertions at Kempton Park on St. Stephen’s Day.

TONY McCOY declared his love for Best Mate after the favourite provided plenty of Christmas cheer for punters with a battling success in the £150,000 Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton yesterday.

Best Mate will face a maximum of nine rivals in his attempt to take the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

KEMPTON PARK is set to play host to a vintage renewal of the Pertemps King George VI Chase on St Stephen’s Day.

First Gold is on course to make his seasonal debut in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase next Sunday.

More Than A Stroll upstaged See More Business and Florida Pearl with a surprise victory in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal.

Top Irish jockey Ruby Walsh has sympathised with Adrian Maguire’s plight after the jockey suffered serious neck injuries just days before the start of the Cheltenham Festival.

Willie Mullins today started the build-up to the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup with his star duo Florida Pearl and Alexander Banquet.

Florida Pearl, the outstanding favourite to win today’s Hennessy Gold Cup, finished a disappointing fourth place at Leopardstown today.

Florida Pearl, winner of the Pertemps King George VI Chase, heads trainer Willie Mullins’ three entries in the Ritz Club Ascot Chase.

Florida Pearl finally got the reward for consistency when storming home to win a fantastic race for the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton.