Florida may miss National

RACING: Willie Mullins indicated yesterday that Florida Pearl is unlikely to take his chance in the Martell Grand National at Aintree on April 5th.

Florida Pearl never figured with a winning chance in Wednesday's Queen Mother Champion Chase after which Mullins revealed he had been seriously considering a National tilt.

However, the horse's jumping didn't impress the trainer and instead Florida Pearl could wait to try and repeat last year's Heineken Gold Cup success at Punchestown.

"We have yet to make a decision about the National but personally I would have no interest after seeing what I saw at Cheltenham. Instead we will look at Punchestown and maybe the Martell Cup," Mullins said.

Florida Pearl has emerged unscathed from the festival but a number of the Mullins runners have returned from Cheltenham less than 100 per cent.

"Jouer D'Estruval is a little sore and Hedgehunter has a knock. We won't know for a few days where we stand with him.

"Adamant Approach hurt his back a bit but he should be okay for Fairyhouse and Punchestown. The Power Gold Cup would be one of the races we will look at," Mullins said.

The bank holiday action gathers momentum tomorrow with two meetings and the man of the moment Barry Geraghty travels to Limerick where his rides include Be My Belle in the Grade Three Dawn Run Novice Chase.

The Thyestes winner had her scoring run interrupted at Thurles in January. Come In Moscow won out but Be My Belle's 140 rating still reads pretty conclusively. Geraghty also looks a significant booking for Ilios, a flat winner at Navan and Naas, in the opening maiden.

Glenelly Gale will strip fresh for the Listed handicap chase not having run since December and that may give the Moore runner the edge.

The stable could also be on the mark in the valuable bumper with Polly Anthus who was fifth to Vodka Bleu in a hot looking Leopardstown bumper.

It could be a very good day indeed for the Arthur Moore camp at Punchestown as Kaoutchou looks hard to oppose in the two and a half mile maiden hurdle and the ex-Mullins trained Summer In Siberia should be fitter for a recent Naas outing in the Punchestown opener.

The former National winner Papillon has another run in the conditions hurdle where Ground Ball also reverts from fences while Yogi can complete a four timer in the handicap hurdle.

Healy's Pub avoided the stresses of Cheltenham and that might pay off for last month's Leopardstown winner in the last.