Florida Pearl on track to rewrite history books

Racing News round-up: The star veteran Florida Pearl will carve out a little piece of history on Sunday if he can land the Hennessy Gold Cup for a remarkable fourth time.Trainer Willie Mullins yesterday confirmed that Florida Pearl was on track for the Leopardstown feature alongside the 2002 winner of the race, Alexander Banquet.

"Richard Johnson will be on Florida Pearl who is in good shape. Ideally I would like the ground to dry out a bit for him but and he is in good form," said Mullins, who nominated David Casey as a possible partner for Alexander Banquet.

However, a fantastic reception is guaranteed Florida Pearl if he can roll back the years to 2001 when he won the race for the third successive time.

That feat emulated Jodami who landed the race from 1993 to '95 but a fourth victory in a Grade One chase would guarantee Florida Pearl's place in the history books.

Only Istabraq's four-in-a-row from 1998 to 2001 in the AIG Champion Hurdle would compare on the jumps front and Mullins said: "It would be some achievement but the priority now is to get him there in good order. Then we'll see."

There has been little ante-post support for Florida Pearl this week and he remained unchanged with Paddy Power yesterday at 8 to 1. Harbour Pilot is the 9 to 4 favourite.

If Florida Pearl is to get decent going, then Leopardstown will have to escape the showers that are forecast before Sunday.

The track manager, Tom Burke, said yesterday: "It's very decent weather today but the going is still soft. We are probably looking at soft again for Sunday but if don't get any showers there is a decent chance of it improving."

Leopardstown's star-studded card also includes the Grade One PJ Moriarty Chase and the Grade Deloitte Novice Hurdle where Watson Lake looks like clashing with the Christmas winner Mariah Rollins.

Noel Meade appears to be leaning towards running Watson Lake who was so impressive in the Grade Three Golden Cygnet on AIG day. Stable companion Mark The Man has been ruled out of Sunday's race.

Brave Inca is a Deloitte entry but is also entered in the Matthews Handicap Hurdle on the same card.

Horse Racing Ireland announced yesterday that its racing department, which incorporates entries, declarations, registrations, publications and race planning, is to move from the Curragh to Kill with effect from February 16th. Its new address is Thoroughbred County House, Kill, Co Kildare.

Paddy Power bet on the Hennessy: 9-4 Harbour Pilot, 5-2 Le Coudray, 3-1 Rince Rí, 5-1 Cloudy Bays, 8-1 Florida Pearl, 20-1 Alexander Banquet, 33-1 Be My Belle.

PJ Moriarty Chase: 13-8 Pizarro, 6-1 Mossy Green and Xenophon, 7-1 Boneyarrow and Camden Tanner, 8-1 Emotional Moment, 12-1 Bar.