Willie Mullins said yesterday that hopefully Richard Dunwoody will ride Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Florida Pearl in his first run of the season in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown on December 28th, "although nothing has yet been firmed up."
"I know Florida Pearl is going to have no cake-walk in the Ericsson," said Mullins, "for I understand Suny Bay will be running. But we have to expect to take on top-class horses if they want to beat them and eventually win the Gold Cup.
"Florida Pearl can't afford to need the Leopardstown race for we want to win. Apart from Suny Bay there are a number of other good horses likely to run so it will be a real test and I am looking forward to it."
Another likely challenger to last season's Royal & Sunalliance Novices' Chase winner could be Dorans Pride, who was slightly disappointing when second to Imperial Call in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown last Sunday.
Trainer Michael Hourigan said yesterday: "No decision has yet been made as to where Dorans Pride next runs. I have still to discuss this with the owners."
Plans for Imperial Call are still fluid. "I still have the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day in mind for him as he is the only Irish entry," said his trainer Raymond Hurley.
"At the same time I would like to run at Leopardstown and I won't make a decision until Friday at the earliest."
Belfast bookmaker Sean Graham have shortened Imperial Call's price for the Gold Cup to 14 to 1 to 20 to 1 and Dorans Pride has been pushed out to 14 to 1 from 11 to 1. Florida Pearl is the 7 to 2 favourite.
Meanwhile, Sharpical has been allotted 10st 4lb in the Tote Gold Trophy on February 13th - 11lb less than he carried to victory in Newbury's valuable handicap hurdle last season.
The Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old sustained a knock during that race and has not been out since. However, he is reported by the stable, who have also entered Barna Boy and Veridian, to be a possible runner.
The weights are headed on 12st by Pridwell, one of 12 horses entered by Martin Pipe.
The most eye-catching of his dozen is Wahiba Sands, winner of the Gerry Feilden Hurdle over the course and distance last month on his debut for the Pipe team. The five-year-old, formerly trained by John Dunlop, is on a handy 10st 8lb.
Others such as Swinton Handicap Hurdle winner Rainbow Frontier (10-8) and Irish import Toast The Spreece (10-5) give Pipe a strong hand.
Nomadic, runner-up to Champion Hurdler Istabraq at Fairyhouse last month, heads a 12-strong Irish contingent with the Noel Meade-trained five-year-old being given 10st 3lb.
David Nicholson is responsible for seven of the 69 entries, including the ex-French gelding Toto Toscato (11-2), an impressive winner at Chepstow last month.
