At the time of writing, Willie Mullins has been leading trainer at the Cheltenham Festival four times in the last five years and six times in all. Altogether, he has saddled 54 winners at the Festival but, over 20 years ago, when he had saddled just two, he introduced a horse that would eventually become one of his most successful steeplechasers. That horse was, of course, Florida Pearl, a bay gelding by Florida Son, who announced his arrival at Prestbury Park with a ready, 5-length win in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper in 1997.
He was back again in 1998, justifying 11/8 favouritism in the RSA Chase, and was placed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice, finishing third behind See More Business in 1999 and second behind Looks Like Trouble in 2000. On Boxing Day, 2001, he also beat Best Mate in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.
All in all, Florida Pearl won 16 of his 33 races, including nine at the highest level, and had the distinction of winning the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown four times, in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2004. Following his victory in 2004, which turned out to be his last race, Mullins said, “That’s given me more pleasure than I’ve ever had in my training career.”
