Florida Pearl bound for Ascot
The popular veteran, who made a winning seasonal reappearance at Fairyhouse recently when jumping with his old zest to comfortably beat subsequent Pillar Property Chase runner-up Rince Ri, is also engaged at Thurles tomorrow and Punchestown on Sunday.
But speaking after saddling Verrocchio to take the opener at Tramore yesterday, Mullins said: “Florida Pearl is Ascot-bound on Saturday, but with the way the weather is, everything is a little bit up in the air.”
The County Carlow handler added: “If the Ascot plan doesn’t work out, we’ll wait for the Hennessy Gold Cup, a week later at Leopardstown.”
Should he run at Leopardstown, Florida Pearl would be seeking a remarkable fourth success in the race having been successful in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
Meanwhile, connections of surprise AIG Europe Champion Hurdle winner Foreman are set to make a decision on the horse’s next target later in the week.
The six-year-old, who is owned by JP McManus and trained by Thierry Doumen, was a head winner of the Grade One event at Leopardstown last Sunday.
Doumen, who also rides the horse, was non-committal about targets after the race but Foreman does hold an entry in next month’s Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury.
Foreman was allotted 10st 6lb in the original handicap but the horse’s plan will not be confirmed until later in the week according to Frank Berry, racing manager to the owner.
“He only got back to France this morning but he’s in good form after the trip,” he said. “We will decide towards the end of the week where he will go next.
“We will decide whether he will go straight to Cheltenham (for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle) or for the Tote Gold Trophy first.”
