Willie Mullins yesterday predicted Florida Pearl "must have a great chance" in next Thursday's Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup. The trainer singled out Teeton Mill and Dorans Pride as the main dangers to his Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner.

But he is full of hope that his charge can complete a rare Festival hat-trick, after wins in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper in 1997 and Royal & SunAlliance Chase last year.

"Florida Pearl is the fastest horse in the race and he must have a great chance of winning next week's Cheltenham Gold Cup," Mullins said.

"He is a strong horse and I don't see the final climb up the hill as any great problem. He's inclined to idle near the finish of a race so if there's something up there to tackle him at the last I wouldn't be discouraged.

"Obviously Teeton Mill is a big danger and Dorans Pride has been trained specially for the race by Michael Hourigan and is sure to come into the reckoning but I'm confident that Florida Pearl will not let us down.

Alexander Banquet, who gave Mullins his third successive win in the Bumper last year, will carry plenty of confidence in Wednesday's Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.