Florida Pearl Impresses In Leopardstown Gallop

Florida Pearl could yet make the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup line-up after impressing trainer Willie Mullins in a post-race workout at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The eleven-year-old was among a whole host of Irish hopes for the big festival next week.

David Casey rode Florida Pearl in the workout over a mile and a half, while Paul Carberry was on Adamant Approach and Ruby Walsh partnered Macs Gildoran.

Florida Pearl and Adamant Approach drew away from the other two turning for home but in the final furlong it was Florida Pearl who stretched clear to finish six lengths in front of his stable companion.

Trainer Willie Mullins still wants to hold fire on a decision on whether to send the 11-year-old, who had appeared likely to wait until Aintree after disappointing in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month, to his sixth Festival.

Mullins said: 'Florida Pearl is a hard horse to beat in these bits of work. There will be no decision about Cheltenham until nearer the time but I'm certainly not discouraged by what I saw.

'I was delighted with Adamant Approach's jumping but he blew very hard and he badly needed that because we've had to be easy on him for a while. Macs Gildoran goes for the Cathcart.'

Stage Affair booked his Arkle Trophy appearance with an impressive performance when ridden by Barry Geraghty in a workout over nine fences with Noel Meade's Cheltenham Gold Cup contender Harbour Pilot (Paul Carberry).

Trainer Dermot Weld said: 'I was pleased with Stage Affair and he will run in the Arkle if he gets into the race. I don't yet know who will ride.'

Limestone Lad pleased Michael Bowe when leading two of Charlie Swan's horses over a mile and three-quarters. Philip Carberry rode him but brother Paul will have the mount in the Stayers' Hurdle.

Bowe said: 'He needed that because he was carrying a bit of condition. He can only improve from this and I couldn't be happier with him.'

Other notable names to work included Dessie Hughes`s Gold Cup hope Colonel Braxton (Norman Williamson) who went with stable companions Hardy Eustace (Kieran Kelly), Mutineer (Richard Hughes) and Rathbawn Prince (Roger Loughran).

Tony Martin worked Xenophon, who will be ridden by Mick Fitzgerald in the CoralCup, and Ross Moff who will be partnered by Paul Carberry in the Mildmay of Flete.