Florida Pearl won the Grade One King George VI Chase at Kempton this afternoon with a battling win over Best Mate.
Trained by Willie Mullins, the 8-1 chance took the initiative three fences from home under Adrian Maguire and held off Best Mate, under champion jockey Tony McCoy by three quarters of a length.
Bacchanal was six lengths further back in third.
The French-trained First Gold, who defeated Florida Pearl into second last year, was sent-off as the 6-4 favourite for the three mile race but could only finish fourth.
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Florida Pearl, a nine-year-old, has also been placed twice in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.