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Crowley double-handed in Gold Cup

Trainer Frances Crowley will be double-handed in tomorrow`s Punchestown Heineken Gold Cup, for which a seven-strong field is set to go to post.

She runs Moscow Express, winner of the equivalent race last year when it was run at Fairyhouse, and one-time Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Sackville.

Sackville currently heads the weights for the Attheraces Gold Cup on Saturday but heads to Punchestown instead.

Sackville has been disappointing since winning the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and was well beaten when falling at the last in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

'He was always going to run there,' Miss Crowley said. 'Sandown was just in case.'

When asked if Sackville had regained his old sparkle the trainer said: 'I think so but we probably won`t know until he runs.'

And of Moscow Express she added: 'He was seventh in the Gold Cup. He won the race last year beating Florida Pearl - he`s taken a few big scalps.

'If one of them won I`d be delighted.'

The Willie Mullins-trained Florida Pearl, who returned to winning form at Aintree last time, is once again in the line-up along with his stable companion Alexander Banquet, Native Upmanship, Foxchapel King and Wicked Crack.