Mullins delays Pearl Cup decision

A decision on Florida Pearl’s participation in the Punchestown Heineken Gold Cup on Wednesday has yet to be made by trainer Willie Mullins.

The 11-year-old landed the Punchestown feature last year – his ninth triumph at Grade One level – but has failed to win this season and ran poorly on his most recent start when dropped to two miles in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at last month’s Cheltenham Festival.

“He is entered at Punchestown but I haven’t made up my mind whether I’m going to run him or not,” said Mullins.

“He’s not really showing his old sparkle. He just seems to be having an off year. He hasn’t got that spark back.

“I’ll do my best to get him there.

“He’s in great form himself but his work hasn’t been as good as it can be.

“Things haven’t gone right for him this year and we’ll probably have to draw a line through the year.”

A total of 18 horses remain in the Grade One contest after today’s forfeit stage including Beef Or Salmon, who was Ireland’s leading fancy for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup only to come to grief at the third fence, and Francois Doumen’s back-to-form chaser First Gold.