Florida Pearl may be clear at the top of the Cheltenham Gold Cup market, but trainer Willie Mullins, while delighted with his horse's progress, has his concerns about the form shown by Florida Pearl's novice contemporaries this season.
Escartefigue, runner-up to Florida Pearl in the SunAlliance, and Boss Doyle, beaten when conceding weight at Leopardstown, have failed to win so far this season. The point has not been lost on Mullins.
"It has to be a slight worry. If one was to be very clinical and take a handicapper's point of view, those horses that Florida Pearl beat have not excelled. Certainly on the book, our horse's form is not as good as some of the others that have run this year," he conceded yesterday.
Such concerns only introduce another aspect to Florida Pearl's much-anticipated return in Leopardstown's Ericsson Chase over Christmas. The good news, however, is that apart from missing a couple of days with minor cuts after a school over hurdles, Florida Pearl's preparation has been trouble-free.
"Everything with him is tiptop. He's in normal work and so far is doing everything right. Imperial Call and Dorans Pride will both improve for last Sunday's race and See More Business is a horse that always improves through the year, but we are very happy with our horse," Mullins added.
The Co Carlow trainer's other stable star, Alexander Banquet, may not be seen out again until February.
Alexander Banquet just edged out Cardinal Hill at Fairyhouse and Mullins reported: "I thought he had a hard race there, but he has recovered so quickly. Cheltenham is the target and I am not too pushed about running him over Christmas. He has had three quick races and I'm not sure he has anything to prove.
"We may wait for the Deloitte & Touche at Leopardstown. His owner Noel O'Callaghan wants him ready for Cheltenham and is not too pushed about what goes beforehand."
Michael Kinane, Pat Eddery and Kieren Fallon will be all in action in the Hong Kong International Riders' Championship at Happy Valley this evening.
The competition has attracted other top jockeys such as Olivier Peslier, Cash Asmussen and Gerald Mosse. Each of the 14 competing riders takes part in three designated races, with the outcome decided on a points basis. The competition winner will receive a trophy and a bonus of £15,700.
Fallon and Kinane have already been among the winners at the start of their spells in Hong Kong. In the meantime, Eddery was relaxing in Mauritius for the past two weeks and jetted in looking fit and well.
