Florida Pearl runner-up in Thursday's Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup left Prestbury Park for home today in good heart, and is likely to make his reappearance at the Punchestown Festival in early May.
He was beaten five lengths by Looks Like Trouble, but gave his all and trainer Willie Mullins said: 'Our head girl said he is in great form this morning.
'I have just watched the re-run of the race and I was delighted with him - he did what we went to do and that was to beat those who beat him last year, but a new kid on the block, I am afraid, came and beat us.'
Mullins went on: 'He had every chance and we were just beaten by a better horse, we don't mind that.
'I think he got the trip all right, he looked as if he might be swallowed up, he idled a bit and Looks Like Trouble got away from him.
'But Paul Carberry told me that the others were never going to pass him - if he did not stay there is not much hope for the rest of them.
'We will hopefully be back again next year.'
Florida Pearl could be back in England for the Martell Cup at Aintree next month, but Mullins went on: 'We will stick him in there, but both owner and trainer are keener to go to Punchestown for the Heinekin Gold Cup (finished second to Imperial Call in the race last year).
'The ground drying up there would be a big worry for us, we would not want it to be firm, though having said that he is a really good mover and he could possibly run on it. They usually water quite well there so we may be all right anyway.'
