PEARL BIDDING FOR TREBLE COGNAC Florida Pearl will face six rivals as he attempts to complete a hat-trick in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday. The nine-year-old, who will be ridden by Ruby Walsh, has yet to win this season but finished 11 lengths second to First Gold in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton last time out. He will be joined by stablemate Alexander Banquet, the mount of Barry Geraghty, who has not raced since finishing third behind King`s Road in Newbury`s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup in November. British champion jockey Tony McCoy travels over to partner Commanche Court for Ted Walsh in place of the trainer`s son Ruby. His mount, winner of the Irish Grand National and Punchestown Heineken Gold Cup last spring, returns to fences after finishing third behind Moscow Flyer over hurdles at Punchestown in November. 'He`s in good form,' Walsh said today. 'He hasn`t run since November. He`s having a spring campaign and he was lightly-racedlast year as well. 'It`s his first time over fences this season and he`s bound to improve for it. 'I was a little disappointed with him last time but I`d say he probably wasn`t just right at the time. 'Tony McCoy rides as Ruby rides Florida Pearl.' Another former winner in the field is the Michael Hourigan-trained Dorans Pride, who took the contest in 1998 and chased home Florida Pearl last year. The 12-year-old finished second to Rince Ri in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown last time when Nick Dundee and Native Upmanship, who both reoppose here, were third and fourth respectively. Sunday`s field is completed by Rathbawn Prince who unseated his rider three out in the Ericsson Chase last time. Elite Racing Club Triumph Hurdle fancies Pittsburgh Phil, Rostropovich and Fruit Defendu are among 12 horses declared for the Cashmans Bookmakers Juvenile Hurdle that opens the card. And Frances Crowley`s Sackville, William Hill`s 6-1 second favourite for the Royal & SunAllianceChase, will face just Well Ridden and Arctic Copper in the Dr P.J. Moriarty Novice Chase.
