Florida Pearl continues to impress in his preparation for a Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup threetimer on Sunday and is now a general 6 to 4 favourite for a race where he could face just five opponents.
The 1998 Hennessy hero, Dorans Pride, is almost certain to avoid another clash with Florida Pearl at Leopardstown and run instead in tomorrow's Esat Digifone Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles, a more likely option for Micko's Dream also.
Dorans Pride's trainer Michael Hourigan said yesterday: "It's very likely he will run at Thurles and I wouldn't imagine he would run in both races. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is still our target, although the Stayers' Hurdle is an option also. I don't think the ground would have too much of an influence on our decision there."
The 1996 Hennessy winner, Imperial Call, is almost a month off a run yet according to his trainer, Raymond Hurley, which leaves the John Magnier-owned pair of Nick Dundee and Native Upmanship as the bookmakers' idea of the main dangers to the Hennessy favourite.
However, Willie Mullins reported yesterday: "Florida Pearl worked very well this morning and will probably have another school some time in the next couple of days. Alexander Banquet worked well enough and will work again on Thursday. We'll decide then, after seeing how he comes out of that, if he will run in the Hennessy too."
The only horse ever to win the Hennessy three times was Jodami, who scored from 1993-95, while Carvill's Hill and Nick the Brief are former double winners. Almost the forgotten horse among the Mullins Cheltenham team is the Festival Bumper winner, Joe Cullen, but he still remains firmly in his trainer's plans for March.
The Gerrard Supreme Novices' Hurdle hope hasn't run since a disappointing effort on the flat at Navan in mid-October but isn't that far off a prep race for Cheltenham if the ground improves.
"Joe Cullen had a good school at Fairyhouse last week and will probably do the same before we give him a run. He's in good form and jumps very well," said Mullins.
Joe Cullen has yet to race over flights but is a 20 to 1 shot for Cheltenham, and Mullins added: "I'm not so much worried about where he has a run before Cheltenham as I am worried about him getting some decent ground. We're aiming him at the two-mile race and I was delighted with the way he went at Fairyhouse last week."
If the Hennessy cuts up into a small field, the same will apply in spades to the PJ Moriarty Novice Chase, which will have just three probable runners.
The British entry, Behrajan, is one of four entries for the lucrative prize but also holds an engagement at Wetherby on Saturday, and his trainer Henry Daly said yesterday: "Basically we entered him at Leopardstown in case there was a weather problem here. But it's looking less likely there will be a freeze up at the weekend and he is not likely to travel."
Cashmans Hennessy betting: 6/4 Florida Pearl, 9/4 Nick Dundee, 7/2 Native Upmanship, 8/1 Alexander Banquet & Commanche Court.
Mick Fitzgerald reached a notable landmark in his career when a battling success at Musselburgh yesterday put him on the scoresheet at all 42 British jumps courses. He achieved the feat when guiding home Carbury Cross in the Eskview Novices' Chase.
