If today's Tote Gold Cup were run on paper, Teeton Mill would win. Thank God Gold Cups are not run on paper. Handicappers, of course, can only go on the evidence of form. Hunches are for amateurs, and on form Teeton Mill deserves his placing as the top handicapped horse in the race.

But Willie Mullins has the evidence of his eyes and they tell him that Florida Pearl has what it takes. Not that Mullins would come out baldly and say so. The articulate and accommodating Co Carlow trainer has had enough opportunity to do just that, such have been the media demands on him this season, but he retains the same respect for racing's foibles that his father, Paddy, had during an illustrious career.

Dawn Run's historic 1996 victory proved that the Gold Cup can turn up any number of twists and turns. Father trained her and son learned the lesson. Yet Mullins Jnr cannot disguise his belief in the young horse that will turn Cheltenham into an Irish madhouse if he wins.

"If a better horse beats him, then more power to it, and it's possible to make cases for eight or nine of them on their best form. Doubts have been raised about Florida Pearl seeing out the trip, but I think he has plenty of stamina. It's just that he doesn't do a lot when he takes the lead.

"I always think he is just dossing in front," Mullins argues with customary fluency. "After winning the SunAlliance last year, Richard (Dunwoody) said he felt so strong he could have gone around again. In the Hennessy at Leopardstown, I believe the roar of the crowd when he landed over the last distracted him and he lost his concentration, but the minute he saw Escartefigue, he took off again and won eased down."

Paper cannot reckon with a horse's mind. His trainer's fluency has become well known to race fans. Mullins has been under an intense spotlight for the last two years with Florida Pearl. The pressure would have been deemed intolerable by many other trainers, but Mullins has impressed with his ability to keep things in perspective.

"I wouldn't mind half a dozen like Florida Pearl," he grins. "I realise he is a horse that people want to know about and it's actually harder to put people off than give them a couple of minutes. Some people don't like talking to the press, but to me it's part and parcel of the job. The only time I don't like talking is when a horse is having its first run. Then it's an owner's privilege to know. After that his form is public."

The form in the Gold Cup is as public as it gets and Mullins is not underestimating its strength in depth.

"Dorans Pride has been especially laid out for this since Christmas, Escartefigue is no dead duck and Double Thriller has proved he can carry weight around the track. It's a Gold Cup with Gold Cup performers in it. Suny Bay, for instance, is best when fresh, and the ground is coming right for See More Business who was one of the favourites last year," he says.

As for the handicapper's Number One, Teeton Mill, Mullins admits he has done nothing wrong, but takes a tincture of consolation from last week's will he/won't he saga over whether Norman Williamson would ride the novice Nick Dundee or the English-trained favourite in the Gold Cup.

"The fact that Norman could have been considering getting off Teeton Mill to ride a novice may beg a question about the English form," he argues.

Now that would be one in the eye for the handicapper.

Imperial Call will miss today's Gold Cup after failing a scope test. The 1996 Gold Cup champion had to have a shoe off earlier in the week but recovered. However he was scoped yesterday and trainer Raymond Hurley found the results were not clear. Imperial Call had been as high as 50/1 for today's race.

Clerk of the course Philip Arkwright has issued a going report for today's meeting on the New Course of Good to Soft. He said: "I can't believe it's dried out to any great degree because the course hasn't been raced on and there's a really good heavy covering of thick grass. There's still real moisture in it."