Florida Pearl could bypass National date

FLORIDA PEARL may have to wait another year before taking his chance in the Martell Cognac Grand National, despite his apparently favourable treatment at the hands of the handicapper ahead of this year’s running of the world’s most famous jump race.

The Irish star has been set to carry joint top-weight of 11st 12lb in the contest, a burden which means he would have to give weight away to all bar recent King George VI Chase runner-up Marlborough.

But despite this, jumps handicapper Phil Smith has given connections of both horses every incentive to take their position in the final line-up by compacting the weights and ensuring that neither concedes as much as they would have to in a normal race.