Horse Racing: Maguire to ride Pearl at Cheltenham

Adrian Maguire has been confirmed as Florida Pearl’s jockey in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Maguire rode Willie Mullins’ charge when he finished a disappointing fourth behind stablemate Alexander Banquet in last Sunday’s Hennessy.

The rider put that performance down to a change in tactics and he is confident the Pertemps King George VI winner can make amends for the defeat with a good run at Cheltenham.

He said: ‘‘The plan was to hold him up simply because if we were left in front we’d be there to be shot down by everything else.

‘‘He raced a little bit too keenly throughout the race and with the ground as testing as it was it just took it’s toll on him inside the final furlong and a half and he got pretty tired and once he got tired that was it, he was looked after definitely with Cheltenham in mind.

‘‘I ride him now in the Gold Cup which is great news I’m delighted to be riding him and I think he has an outstanding chance still.

‘‘I know we’ve had a lot of rain but Cheltenham drains very well and I’m sure there will be different tactics applied next time.’’