Florida Pearl recorded another valuable Grade 1 success when running out a convincing winner of the Heineken Gold Cup at Punchestown today.
Barry Geraghty settled the Willie Mullins-trained gelding in fifth place as Foxchapel King and Moscow Express disputed the lead in the Grade One contest on the second day of Festival.
But as the field went away from the stands with a circuit to go in the three-mile-one-furlong event, Moscow Express made a bad mistake at the first down the back leaving Sackville to take over from Foxchapel King with Native Upmanship and Florida Pearl in touch.
Florida Pearl went on approaching the fourth last only to hit the fence hard but Geraghty soon had the King George winner back on an even keel and kept up to his work.
The 13-8 favourite ran on to score by three lengths from Native Upmanship with Alexander Banquet back in third.