Florida Pearl was yesterday the subject of an ante-post plunge in the betting for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Willie Mullins-trained chaser is now a best-priced 6 to 1 joint-favourite for the race with Coral after punters lumped on following a tipping line recommendation.

Ladbrokes reported that money had come "thick and fast" for the gelding and cut the seven-year-old to 9 to 2 favourite from 7 to 1, while the Tote and William Hill are both 9 to 2 from 10 to 1 and 8 to 1 respectively.

Florida Pearl finished third behind See More Business and Go Ballistic in this year's Gold Cup. He made a winning return to action this term in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Newbury's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on November 27th has lost two of its main players with the news that Stormyfairweather and No Retreat will miss the race.

Stormyfairweather is almost certain to miss the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup after a disappointing performance in a gallop after racing at Kempton.

And No Retreat will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining an injury.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Stormyfairweather, partnered by Mick Fitzgerald, trailed in about eight lengths behind stablemates Bacchanal (David Casey) and Fiddling The Facts (Norman Williamson) at the end of his two-mile work-out.

Coral had quoted Stormyfair weather as the 7-1 favourite for the Newbury handicap on Saturday week but immediately scratched him from their list.

"It looks like I'm not going to get Stormy there," said Henderson. "The race is going to come a fortnight too soon for him."

Coral revised Hennessy betting: 6-1 Spendid & Ever Blessed, 7-1 Hanakham, 10-1 Fiddling The Facts & Earthmover, 11-1 Young Kenny & Tullymurry Toff, 12-1 bar.

Strong Promise is on course for his return to action at the weekend as he prepares to join a glittering array of stars destined for the Pertemps King George VI Chase.

The strapping eight-year-old is already among the front-runners in the betting for the £110,000 spectacular at Kempton.

Strong Promise is certain to be in the King George list when entries for the race close next Wednesday.

Other stars lined up for the December 27th race include the 1997 winner See More Business, last season's Gold Cup winner, and the exciting Looks Like Trouble.

Strong Promise, trained by Geoff Hubbard, is poised to run in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Saturday.

Strong Promise is 6 to 1 third best for the King George with Coral and the Tote.

See More Business is the 2 to 1 favourite in both lists while Looks Like Trouble is 2 to 1 with the Tote and 5 to 2 with Coral.