First Gold looks a banker bet

When it comes to landing the Pertemps King George VI Chase, Francois Doumen has no peers among his fellow trainers.

The suave Frenchman first burst onto the scene in 1987 when he saddled Nupsala to victory.

Since then he has added further victories with The Fellow (1991 and 1992), Algan (1994), and last year with First Gold.

His latest victor returns to the Kempton scene of last year's triumph on St Stephen's Day and it is very difficult to find a reason to oppose him.

Having won in the colours of the Marquesa de Moratalla, First Gold now runs in the famous green and gold of JP McManus, who had high hopes of taking the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup with the eight-year-old.

But thanks to the foot-and-mouth outbreak it was not to be.

However, success in the Christmas showpiece could well be a stepping stone to this year's blue riband for the renowned Irish gambler. Last year's performance, when First Gold beat Florida Pearl by an amazing 10 lengths, came on the back of an outstanding display of jumping on the fast Sunbury track.

It would be difficult to envisage a repeat of such an authoritative showing given the opposition this time round but having warmed up with a third to Historic over timber at Newbury at the beginning of the month, First Gold is without doubt the one they all have to beat.

Victory for the Shafoun gelding could be part of a £100,000 Pertemps bonus winning treble for Doumen, who also saddles Bilboa for the Christmas Hurdle and Innox for the Feltham Novices' Chase.

The former looks to have a great chance of taking the timber event based on her outstanding juvenile form in this country last season, the highlight of which was her 21-lengths success over Azertyuiop in Aintree Glenlivet Anniversary Hurdle in April.

Although possibly the weakest link of Doumen's trio, Innox performed with credit when finishing third to Katarino at Newbury on the first day of the month and the trainer's runners must always be respected.

JP McNamara has been handed the opportunity to ride the Irish star Florida Pearl in the King George VI Chase, writes Brian O'Connor.

After a frantic morning, during which Paul Carberry finally passed up on the chance to ride Florida Pearl in the Kempton feature, trainer Willie Mullins turned to Irish-born McNamara to solve his jockey dilemma.

"If one or two other meetings are cancelled because of the weather, and other jockeys become available, things could change but as things stand JP McNamara will ride Florida Pearl. He will probably school him too," Mullins said.

Florida Pearl, a double Hennessy winner, was runner up to First Gold in the King George last year. Ruby Walsh rode him on that occasion but the current champion has elected to ride at Leopardstown. It is a wonderful opportunity for McNamara who rides mainly for Ferdy Murphy in the north of England.

Pedro Pete was put down yesterday morning after suffering a fractured pelvis in the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.