Brian O'Connor
Richard Johnson teams up with Florida Pearl for the first time in nearly three years when the veteran star kicks off what is likely to be his last season racing at Fairyhouse tomorrow.
The Grade Three Normans Grove Chase is a belated start to the campaign for Florida Pearl, who is being given one final tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
After being placed twice in the blue riband, Paddy Power's 40 to 1 quote for this season's Gold Cup hardly looks generous, but Johnson at least boasts an impressive record on the charismatic 12-year-old.
The leading British rider was beaten into second by Moscow Express in the 2001 Heineken at Punchestown, but the only other time he has ridden Florida Pearl was in the 2001 Hennessy success.
Florida Pearl will be far from his peak today, and over the trip those looking for a winner should probably look elsewhere. Rince Ri, a 14 to 1 favourite for the Grand National with some firms, will be sharper but also well short of his best trip, while the 2002 winner Arctic Copper finds it hard to win these days.
Rathgar Beau, who ran a blinder behind Beef Or Salmon at Cork in December, will be at his optimum distance and could be the solution.
Kahuna was not right when finishing 25 lengths behind Mariah Rollins at Leopardstown but at his best the Dusty Sheehy-trained horse can account for Like A Bee and Fatherofthebride in the novice hurdle.
Conor O'Dwyer is on Heads Onthe Ground for JP McManus in the Beginners Chase, but might end up regretting not being on Munster, who has his second start over fences. The Arthur Moore runner has always looked a chasing type and did nothing to disabuse that notion with his debut second to Direct Bearing at Leopardstown over Christmas.
The opening maiden hurdle is a trappy-looking contest, but maybe Willie Mullins has the answer with Lasquini Du Moulin, who didn't run badly on his first start over hurdles and whose bumper form is good.
Down at Cork, the man to follow should be Michael Hourigan, who can saddle a treble starting off with Vic Ville.
American Duchess should relish the rise in trip for the handicap hurdle, while The Parishioner, a double point-to-point winner, will be in his element over the jumps.
