Race fans in Northern Ireland are in for a treat as the Gold Cup winner and runner-up Looks Like Trouble and Florida Pearl renew rivalry tomorrow.
The pair are among five runners in the #110,000 James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal.
The race is being staged a week later than planned after the course was found to be unraceable on the scheduled date.
Noel Chance is confident his charge Looks Like Trouble, the favourite to retain his Gold Cup crown next March, will be fit enough to do himself justice.
'It`s the first day of a long season and he won`t be as fit as he was when he won the Gold Cup but he`ll certainly be as fit as Florida Pearl,' said the trainer.
'You can never too confident but everything`s set for him to run a big race.
'I haven`t had the chance to make a check on the ground but I`m assured that it will be riding perfect.'
With a small field there has to be concern that there could be a false pace.
But Chance said: 'Itshouldn`t be a problem for my horse. If it`s fast enough Richard Johnson can sit in behind and if it isn`t he wouldn`t be inconvenienced by having to go on.'
Florida Pearl appeared to be deficient in stamina over the three miles two furlongs of the Gold Cup and the one-quarter of a mile less to travel tomorrow might favour him more than his big rival.
But Chance said: 'It must be remembered that Looks Like Trouble won an intermediate chase at Sandown and never looked like getting beaten at any stage. He`s not a slow horse and I`m not worried about the distance.'
Looks Like Trouble has the King George VI Chase on the agenda after tomorrow`s race but Chance said he would also be entered for the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Florida Pearl will be partnered for the first time by Ruby Walsh as he bids to avenge his Gold Cup defeat.
Walsh, who returned to action today after breaking his right wrist, should have ridden the horse last season but a combination of injuries and other commitments meant that Paul Carberry was in the saddle.
Carberry was in the saddle when Florida Pearl won this event in clear-cut fashion 12 months ago.
Florida Pearl`s trainer Willie Mullins said: 'I don`t mind taking on Looks Like Trouble as this stage of the season.
'You could never be sure about fitness but I`m sure it will be a help that we are going back to three miles.'
Dorans Pride, runner-up in the event last year, his stablemate Inis Cara and Buck Rogers complete the line-up.
