Pearl hurt in Foxchapel defeat Florida Pearl received a gash on his off-fore following an unexpected defeat in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal today.Willie Mullins` star, sent off 4 to 5 favourite, could find no extra from the second last as Foxchapel King fought off all challengers for a determined front-running success.Paul Carberry appeared to be cruising on Florida Pearl turning into the straight but he soon came under pressure when asked for an effort approaching the second last and couldn`t get past the gutsy Foxchapel King and jockey David Casey.Ireland`s top-rated chaser eventually lost second place to 40-1 outsider Wicked Crack close home. Mullins later reported that his gelding got a cut which had to receive stitching.'I don`t know how long he is going to be on the sidelines,' he added.Francis Crowley`s Moscow Express was also a major disappointment and was ridden from four out.Winning trainer Mouse Morris said Foxchapel King could appear next at Leopardstown over Christmas.'I left the tactics up to David but he knew what I wanted. Foxchapel King likes to be up with the pace and he did his job well.' said Morris.'He`s only really coming to himself and he will run again in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas.'Mullins had initially said of Florida Pearl: 'He just ran out of gas. The winner was match fit. Florida Pearl tired in the last half mile. 'He`ll probably run again in the John Durkin Chase at Punchestown next month.'Ladbrokes quoted Florida Pearl a 25-1 chance for the Cheltenham Gold Cup immediately afterwards.Peter Savill, chairman of the BHB, attended Down Royal for the first time and was rewarded with a winner when Whistling Dixie, trained by Mary Reveley, saw off the attentions of the Len Lungo-trained Magic Combination by three and a half lengths in the Bannville House Hotel Handicap hurdle.Mrs Reveley wasn`t at the meeting but Savill, who was making his third visit to NorthernIreland, said: 'This is the first time my wife has seen the horse run in her colours and I`m delighted for her.'Whistling Dixie will probably run in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
