Mullins rules Pearl out of Aintree
Willie Mullins has revealed that Florida Pearl will not be making the trip from Ireland to Aintree next week.
The 11-year-old was a smooth winner of the Martell Cup Chase last year but a repeat bid has been ruled out, it emerged today.
“Florida Pearl definitely won’t be going to Aintree,” Mullins told the Racing Post. “The plan is to run him in the Heineken Gold Cup at Punchestown.”
The popular chaser, for so long the darling of the Irish crowds, also triumphed in the Heineken last season but he has not won since and has not enjoyed the best of times recently.
His latest start came in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham when he finished a well-beaten eighth of the 11 runners.
