Mullins happy with his charges

Willie Mullins reports Florida Pearl and Davenport Milenium none the worse for their exertions at Kempton Park on St Stephen's Day.

Florida Pearl was unable to repeat last year’s triumph in the Pertemps King George VI Chase but still finished a good fourth on ground softer than ideal, while Davenport Milenium occupied third in the Pertemps Christmas Hurdle on his first run since April.

“They arrived home this morning and they appear to be grand, we’re happy enough with them,” Mullins said today.

Florida Pearl had also suffered a less than ideal preparation for the three-mile showpiece and Mullins was reasonably satisfied with his effort.

“In the circumstances, the ground and preparation and everything, I was prepared to be disappointed I suppose,” he said.

“He was there to the fourth-last and I’m certainly not unhappy. We’ll have to plan where he runs next but we think he’s come out of the race well enough and certainly wasn’t distressed or anything.”

The Hennessy is a likely next target for the 10-year-old although Mullins said: “I might give him a run before that, I going to have a look at another option maybe. Probably the Hennessy would be favourite at this stage.

“The Gold Cup has always been the plan so we’ll see how we go.”

Davenport Milenium’s effort on the testing ground left Mullins encouraged for his future campaign.

“I was quite pleased considering the ground when I got to Kempton,” Mullins said. “He blew up, needed the race and stayed on again.

“We’ll have to run him again somewhere as well and I’ll be looking for another race for him, there’s the AIG at Leopardstown, the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton, there’s a couple of options there for me.”

One Night Out ran with plenty of credit for the County Carlow handler to be fourth in a hot renewal of the Pertemps Aviation Resources Novices’ Chase but looks set for a drop back in trip.

“I’m absolutely delighted with him, he was only having his second run over fences,” Mullins said.

“It looks like might not be a three-mile horse he seemed to only get two and a half so we’ll probably bring him back in trip for his next run.

“I’ve no idea where that might be at this stage.”