Pearl ruled out of Cheltenham
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.
Mullins said: "The horse did not appear 100 per cent this morning and after veterinary examination he was found to have a ligament problem.
"We have decided to rest him for the remainder of the season as we wouldn't have time to get him back even for the Punchestown Festival.
"We'll have to talk about it with the owners as far as next season is concerned."
Florida Pearl has been beaten in three attempts at the Gold Cup. He was third to See More Business in 1999, a personal best five-length runner-up to Looks Like Trouble 12 months later, but only 11th to Best Mate two years ago.
He has been a regular at Cheltenham, winning the Weatherbys Champion Bumper in 1997 and the Royal & SunAlliance Chase the following season.
Last year he was dropped in trip for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, but was only eighth behind Moscow Flyer.
Conqueror of Best Mate in the King George VI Chase at Kempton in December 2001, he was enjoying a successful campaign this time and won the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown for an unprecedented fourth time last month.
Meanwhile, Best Mate is one of a team of eight pencilled in for the Cheltenham Festival by trainer Henrietta Knight one of which is the champion's year-younger brother Inca Trail.
Having proved slightly disappointing since arriving in Britain late in 2002, Inca Trail showed a dramatic return to form when winning over hurdles at Wincanton last month.
Knight, who has the Coral Cup in mind, is hopeful a recent breathing operation has worked the oracle for the eight-year-old, although as with his big brother, she reckons testing conditions would be against him.
In that case, stablemate Foly Pleasant owned, like Tote Gold Cup favourite Best Mate, by Jim Lewis could enter the equation.
The trainer also singled out Rosslea (National Hunt Chase) and Impek (Cathcart Chase) as others with good chances of improving her tally of six Festival wins.
Meanwhile, Marlborough, winner of the Racing Post Chase at Kempton Park last Saturday, has been allotted top weight of 11st 12lb in the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase on the opening day of Cheltenham.
Nicky Henderson's veteran won the Prestbury Park contest four years ago under 10st 3lb, so has 23lb more to carry this time after being raised 7lb following his Kempton victory.
Haut Cercy, runner-up to Youlneverwalkalone in the £80,000 contest, run over an extended three miles, last March off bottom weight of 10st, has 9lb more this time.
Tyneandthyneagain, winner of this winter's Tote Eider Chase and Skybet Chase, heads the weights for the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase.
Richard Guest's gelding will have to shoulder 12st 4lb in the £50,000 contest for amateur riders, which is staged on Tuesday, March 16.
Weights for the £75,000 Coral Cup on the second day of the meeting are headed on 11st 12lb by Rhinestone Cowboy.
Last season's Champion Hurdle third is likely to go for the Smurfit-sponsored showpiece again, but should he be re-routed to the longer-distance event, then he would be one of only 17 of the 135 entries in the handicap.
Cheltenham specialist Fondmort, winner of this season's Paddy Power Gold Cup and the 2002 Tripleprint Gold Cup, has 11st 12lb in the Mildmay Of Flete Handicap Chase.
Fondmort's stablemate Isio will have to give weight all round if he runs in the Grand Annual Handicap Chase on the last day of the meeting.
The eight-year-old, on 11st 12lb, defeated leading Queen Mother Champion Chase fancy Azertyuiop in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.
Rigmarole's presence at the top of the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle weights on 11st 12lb means he is one of only 16 of the 109 entries in the handicap proper for the final race of the meeting.
It is more likely, however, that Paul Nicholls' charge will bid for Champion Hurdle glory instead.
