Willie Mullins yesterday repeated his belief that Ruby Walsh will renew his association with Florida Pearl in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Walsh, on the sidelines for Florida Pearl's Hennessy victory at the weekend, is the regular rider of four of the leading Irish Gold Cup hopes including Rince Ri and Commanche Court who are trained by his father Ted.
Mullins, who reported both Florida Pearl and Alexander Banquet to have emerged well from Sunday's gruelling race, yesterday praised the winning ride given to Florida Pearl by Richard Johnson but emphasised that Walsh is his number one choice.
"At the moment Ruby is riding Florida Pearl. That is the plan unless something happens to the contrary," he said.
Mullins added: "A lot of things could happen in the meantime and getting the horse there is my main concern but I would imagine Ruby is keen enough to ride Florida Pearl whose credentials are good. Florida Pearl has actually done it compared to the others."
Walsh wouldn't be drawn, however, on definite Gold Cup plans and said it is too soon for any final decisions to be taken.
He said yesterday: "Cheltenham is six weeks away and too far in the future. I can't tell what I will be riding next weekend, never mind in six weeks' time. Who knows what might happen. Look at what happened last weekend when I got knocked off Florida Pearl the day before the race. Who's to say something like that won't happen again or if all the horses will be okay in six weeks' time."
Mullins, when asked about possible contingency plans if Walsh was unavailable to ride Florida Pearl, said: "When the problem arises I will tackle it."
However, he added: "I thought Richard Johnson got on very well with Florida Pearl on Sunday and I thought Paul Carberry got on very well with the horse last year. He would certainly not be out of the calculations. But who knows who will be injury free around Cheltenham. Jockeys are getting injured every day of the week."
Walsh's embarrassment of Gold Cup options could be emphasised again at Kempton in 18 days' time where the Racing Post Trophy is a likely option for Sunday's Hennessy fourth Commanche Court.
Another Ted Walsh-trained star, Papillon, has a number of entries this weekend but is unlikely to travel to Newbury for an AON Chase clash with the Gold Cup favourite First Gold and the Nicky Henderson trained Marlborough.
Papillon also holds an entry for the Grand National Trial at Fairyhouse on Sunday, a fixture that is emerging as a significant Cheltenham trial day in itself.
Beechcourt, the 4 to 1 favourite for the Festival Bumper, is set to have his second career start and his stable companion Knife Edge, a leading Irish contender for the Arkle Trophy, is an intended runner in the Tied Cottage Novice Chase.
Ned Kelly, unbeaten over jumps, holds an entry for the INH Novice Hurdle on Sunday.
There is a strong Irish presence for Saturday's £100,000 Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury despite the absence of the Arthur Moore-trained duo The Gatherer and Masalarian. Trainer Pat Hughes is set to be represented by Pierse Hurdle winner Grinkov and also has Topacio in the race, while Miss Emer (Noel Meade) and Saddler's Bay (Tony Martin) could also travel.
