Pearl ruled out of Cheltenham

FLORIDA PEARL, a 25-1 shot for the Gold Cup with Cashmans, will miss Cheltenham and the rest of the campaign.

Willie Mullins yesterday reported that his stable star wasn't a hundred per cent when pulled out in the morning and has suffered ligament trouble.

As a 12-year-old, it clearly leaves a major question mark over his future and whether one of the best National Hunt horses this country has produced will run again remains to be seen.