Rules force Mullins to divert Pearl

The long-awaited chasing debut of the Cheltenham bumper winner Florida Pearl has had to be postponed because, surprisingly, he is not qualified to run in the EBF Novice Chase at Navan on Saturday. Trainer Willie Mullins, who had expected to run Florida Pearl in the two-mile, six-furlong contest, explained yesterday: "The horse's sire, Florida Son, was not a member of the European Breeders Fund in the year that Florida Pearl was conceived, so those EBF races are out for him. The Turf Club informed me of this when I entered him. It's more annoying than a serious problem, but luckily there are plenty other races for the horse."

Florida Pearl is now likely to make his fencing debut in a Beginners Chase on the last day of the Leopardstown Christmas meeting.

"There's also a Beginners Chase at Limerick and a race at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day, but I've been talking to Richard Dunwoody's agent, Ciaran O'Toole, and Richard's likely to be available for the Leopardstown race. That looks odds on at the moment," Mullins said.

The Co Carlow trainer's other Cheltenham bumper winner, Wither Or Which, is now not likely to reappear until late January.

"We did a bit of work with him and he's not quite as forward as I thought he was. Possibly after such a long lay-off, he just needs more time," Mullins added.

In the shorter term, Aidan O'Brien is set to be three-handed at Cheltenham's Tripleprint Gold Cup fixture on Saturday.

The Ballydoyle trainer will not be represented in the big race itself, but Just Little will take on the former champion hurdler Collier Bay as well as Large Action in the Bonusprint Bula Hurdle, as long as the ground remains good.

Private Peace, who benefitted from the exit of Hill Society to win at Fairyhouse last time, will bid to win his fourth race over fences in the Doubleprint Novices Chase, where the highly-regarded English novice Escartefigue is also an entry.

The O'Brien team will be completed by Promalee, runner-up to Feathered Leader at Fairyhouse last time, in the Bristol Novices Hurdle, like the Bula, a Grade Two event. Charlie Swan will ride all three.

O'Brien also has his eye on the long term regarding next flat season's classic races, although it remains unclear as to which of his formidably strong team will represent him in the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas.

O'Brien reveals in the 1997-98 Irish Racing Annual, launched yesterday, that although his unbeaten Grand Criterium winner Second Empire has "a great turn of foot", he is not certain to go to the Guineas for which he is one of the favourites.

At yesterday's Racing Annual launch, O'Brien was also presented with the Goffs personality of the year award in Irish racing.