Bet on Florida Pearl

In the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Florida Pearl couldn't quite manage to become the super-champion that the racing public so fervently wished for, but the rehabilitation process can begin in today's £120,000 Heineken Gold Cup.

Indeed rehabilitation is too strong a word. The hopes invested in Florida Pearl at Cheltenham were, in hindsight, probably unrealistic.

Although unbeaten in any race he completed, Florida Pearl was nevertheless a comparatively inexperienced seven-year-old racing for the first time at championship pace in a championship race. Throw in the fact that Willie Mullins' horses as a whole were not completely firing at the time and it was no real surprise that Florida Pearl faded to third. It was not his fault that we all got ahead of ourselves.

All of which is not to say that Florida Pearl cannot still become a Gold Cup winner. The knee-jerk reaction at Cheltenham was that he did not stay, but in truth Florida Pearl was never "tanking along" in the Gold Cup like he normally does. The persistent tips of Richard Dunwoody's whip down the shoulder testified to a horse just not quite right.

Certainly Florida Pearl will have to stay today against his old rivals, Dorans Pride and Escartefigue, with Imperial Call and the mare, Opera Hat, making her racecourse swan-song, thrown in also.

Tony McCoy has come in for the ride on Dorans Pride after Adrian Maguire was found yesterday to have broken a bone in his hand.

Michael Hourigan's admirably consistent horse was another Irish Gold Cup disappointment and Hourigan believed that too much use was made of Dorans Pride.

That theory will be tested today, but in a small field, none of these are likely to be taken off their feet early on.

Nevertheless, the Grade One contest can come down to another clash between Dorans Pride and Florida Pearl. Both are reported to be working well, both are relatively fresh and both have something to prove. Bet on Florida Pearl to prove best.

Joe Mac, who picked up a stone bruise at the weekend and will have a fitness test in the morning, found the conditions at Aintree to his liking, but he is now upped half a mile in the Stanley Cooker Champion Novice Hurdle. An obviously classy sort if able to run, Joe Mac could be found wanting if it comes down to a struggle over this extra distance and stiffer track, and Colonel Yeager is selected to reverse Cheltenham form.

On that occasion, Colonel Yeager was never really travelling, but in running on to be fourth he indicated he will be a smart stayer and that test will have done much to mature him. Even with the Fairyhouse winner Site-Leader, Winter Garden and three British challengers, Colonel Yeager looks a value bet.

Richard Dunwoody can kick off a very good day with Musical Mayhem in the opening novices hurdle. Dermot Weld's prolific winner had a spin around Leopardstown 10 days ago in a charity race and, as a dual Galway scorer last summer, he is sure to appreciate the drying ground.

The other Grade One contest on the card is the Paddy Power Champion Flat Race which features the course winner Biliverdin on a retrieval mission from Cheltenham. The British horses had the edge in the festival bumper there, however, and Ferdy Murphy's Ayr winner Ballinclay King is the subject of good reports.

Frankie Dettori looks set to partner Island Sands in the 2,000 Guineas in preference to Easter Rhythm Band is more likely to wait for the French 2,000 Guineas at Longchamp on May 16th.