Florida may go to Kempton

Florida Pearl has emerged as a possible challenger to See More Business in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.

Willie Mullins is thinking of running the eight-year-old in the Christmas spectacular after dismissing his poor run at Down Royal last weekend as a "one-off".

"He's grand. He just had an off-day I'd say," reported the Co Carlow trainer yesterday.

Florida Pearl found no extra from the third-last fence when a distant fourth of five to Looks Like Trouble.

Florida Pearl, runner-up to See More Business in the Tote Gold Cup at Cheltenham last March, is likely to be given the chance to redeem his reputation in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on December 10th.

"Yes that's part of the plan. We're going have to have a good look at that race and probably aim towards it and then the King George."

Mullins also expressed his sympathy for the connections of Looks Like Trouble in the wake of the horse's tendon injury following his Down Royal success.

"It's very disappointing especially to a horse that put in such a wonderful display of bold jumping and front-running. But it's there for any of us to happen to, any day of the week," he said.

The Breeders' Cup Turf winner, Kalanisi, is to to kept in training with Michael Stoute next season and not retired to stud as was expected.

Pat Downes, the Aga Khan's racing manager, said: "Although I can't think of another of the Aga Khan's horses similar to Kalanisi who has stayed in training (apart from Daylami, who raced at five for Godolphin), there is no across-the-board policy about whether a horse continues to race or not.

"We looked at Kalanisi, and it seemed right to keep him in training. He was un-raced at two, only raced three at three and improved throughout his four-year old campaign. We feel the best of him has yet to be seen."

Garry Woodward's application for a review of the case which saw the withdrawal of his trainer's licence was thrown out at a meeting of the Jockey Club Review Committee at Portman Square yesterday. The committee backed up the original judgment issued earlier this month that Woodward was guilty of breaching the Rules of racing in that he had withheld monies owed to stable employees under the Stable Percentage Money scheme.