It's almost five years since Florida Pearl took the first winning step in a fascinating and much analysed career but a sparkling John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase victory yesterday indicated the fascination is far from over.
Dismissed as a 5 to 1 outsider of the four runners, and coming to Punchestown on the back of a piece of work that had made him a doubtful runner earlier in the week, Florida Pearl proved the doubters wrong yet again.
The twice Gold Cup-placed star kicked the young pretender Sackville out of his way after the second last and had enough in hand to just hold off the late challenge of Native Upmanship by a short head.
It was a reverse of last year's Durkan when Florida Pearl had lost out to Native Upmanship in another titanic struggle and convinced even the sceptics in the betting ring that the former great white hope is not finished as a prospective Gold Cup winner.
Florida Pearl is now as low as 16 to 1 with Paddy Power for the blue riband and before that Willie Mullins is raring to have another crack at the Gold Cup favourite, First Gold, in Kempton's King George VI Chase.
Florida Pearl was runner up to the French star in the Christmas showpiece last year but is an 8 to 1 shot to go one better this time and improve on a career record of 11 wins from 21 starts as well as a prizemoney total of almost £650,000.
"He did work bad early in the week but we couldn't find anything wrong and he was fine when he had a pop this morning," said a satisfied Mullins who dismissed talk of taking the Champion Chase option.
"We're aiming for the Gold Cup. Paul (Carberry) was particularly happy with his jumping and the way he battled after getting there a bit soon," he added.
Arthur Moore dismissed the King George option for Native Upmanship and instead the horse will run in the Ericsson at Leopardstown if the ground is decent. If not, a two-mile option at the Dublin track will be taken up.
"This time round the run-in wasn't long enough for us but that's the way it goes. He is entitled to go for the Ericsson," Moore remarked.
Frances Crowley admitted to being "a bit disappointed" with Sackville who tried to make all before only beating the mistake prone Rince Ri home.
"Having to make it was not ideal and when David (Casey) slowed things up, nobody joined him. They will find it harder to get past him in the Ericsson," she said.
Ballyhampshire Boy was cut to 11 to 1 third favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle after another smooth victory under Barry Geraghty.
There was nothing predictable about the Punchestown Cup, however, as the track specialist Risk Of Thunder fell six obstacles from home and although remounted he wound up only third to Linden's Lotto. "He wasn't beaten a long way after getting back up and he's still the best banks horse there'll ever be," reported rider Ken Whelan.
