Mullins going for gold with Florida Pearl

Popular veteran Florida Pearl has another tilt at the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup on the agenda following his decisive win at Fairyhouse yesterday.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding was having his first start since April last year in the Normans Grove Chase, and his handler is now tempted to have another go at the blue riband event.

“I think we are all keen to go to Cheltenham and it will probably be for the Gold Cup,” Mullins said today.

“Before that I think he’ll probably go for the Ritz Club Chase at Ascot on the 31st of this month. The Irish Hennessy eight days later is another option, but I’d say the Ascot race is favourite at the moment.

“If he runs well enough at the end of the month he’ll go to Cheltenham, but I’d also like to go back to Aintree and Punchestown, where he realistically has a better chance of winning.”

Florida Pearl’s last success had been in the 2002 running of the Punchestown Heineken Gold Cup, where he inflicted a three-length defeat on Native Upmanship, and Mullins is delighted with the 12-year-old’s return to form.

“It was good to see him in the winner’s enclosure and he has come back fine,” the trainer added. “He is in good form and I am delighted with him.”

Richard Johnson took the ride in yesterday’s two-mile-one-furlong contest, having ridden Florida Pearl twice before, including when successful in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown in 2001.

“I’d be delighted if Richard can ride him in the future as he has always got on well with him,” the County Carlow-based trainer said.

Florida Pearl finished third to See More Business in the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup and second to Looks Like Trouble in 2000, but he was unplaced behind Best Mate in 2002.

Last year he ran in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, coming home last of eight finishers behind Moscow Flyer.