Florida Pearl returns to winning ways

Florida Pearl reversed last year's placings with Native Upmanship in the featured John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on Sunday afternoon when he held on by the minimum margin in a thrilling finish under Paul Carberry.

Sackville, winner of the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last month, was sent off the easy-to-back 6/4 favourite and rider David Casey wasted no time in seizing the initiative after flagfall.

Closely tracked by Rince Ri, whose jumping let him down on more than one occasion, the contest began to unfold after the third last with front-running Sackville still holding the call.

Florida Pearl swept past the tiring favourite after jumping the second last fence but then needed all of Paul Carberry's urgings on the run-in to hold the late rally of the patiently ridden Native Upmanship by a rapidly diminishing short head.

Winning trainer Willie Mullins still has the Tote Gold Cup at Cheltenham next March as the long term target, `The Gold Cup is still on. He blew up at Down Royal and his main target is the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown next February. Before that I'm keen to have another crack at the King George at Kempton over Christmas.`

Mullins revealed that Florida Pearl, subject of negative reports earlier in the week, did everything right since, `He's eaten up all week since working badly and there was nothing to suggest there was anything wrong. Jamie (Codd) popped him over three fences this morning and he pinged them so I was hoping for the best coming here today.`

Joe Crowley, father of Frances Crowley, who trains Sackville, was not too downbeat,

`That's the third time he has got beaten here and it's never easy having to make the running. It just wasn't his day.`

Bookmaker reaction regarding Gold Cup betting was to cut Florida Pearl to 20/1 (from 33/1) while Sackville was eased to 10/1 (from 7/1) and Rince Ri 33/1 (from 20/1) for the Blue Riband event at the Cotswolds next March.