He may never live up to the hype, which spiralled out of control after his SunAlliance Chase win in 1998, but Florida Pearl is right out of the top drawer as he demonstrated with an emphatic victory in today's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown.
The son of Florida Son leapt back into the Cheltenham picture with a highly convincing five-and-a-half-length defeat of previous Hennessy hero Dorans Pride and turned the tables in no uncertain terms with Ericsson conqueror Rince Ri, who finished a distant third.
Paul Carberry made sure there would be no repeat of that controversial defeat here over Christmas ? having the gelding (8/11) handy all the way and disputing with Bob Treacy eight fences from home.
Carberry held on to his mount until the fifth last where he let him stride on and the issue was settled between the last two as Dorans Pride failed in his persistent efforts to get to the eventual winner.
Rince Ri had travelled well until the front pair quickened from three out and His Song also started to feel the pinch from there on.
'The horse done the talking today. I couldn't ask for any more.' said a delighted Mullins.
'We came to win the Hennessy ? this was the race we wanted ? Cheltenham is next but this is a fantastic race to win and we are delighted.
'I said to Paul going out to do whatever he thinks is best. I never had any doubt about the trip.'
Bookmakers were quick to cut the winner's odds for next month's Tote Gold Cup and the Archie O'Leary's eight-year-old is now generally a 6-1 shot from 8-1 this morning. Current Champion See More Business remains the short priced favourite at 7/4.
There was no fairy-tale comeback for 1997 winner Danoli, who was weakening when unshipping Tom Treacy three from home.
Youlneverwalkalone (8/13f) enhanced his growing reputation with an effortless performance in the Deloitte and Touche Novice Hurdle.
Cheltenham plans remain fluid for the JP McManus owned and Christy Roche trained Montelimar gelding, who holds entries in the Supreme Novices' and SunAlliance Hurdles, after an easy five-length defeat of Sackville.
Conor O'Dwyer oozed confidence on the eventual winner as he sat midfield before making progress to track the leader from four out.
Sackville took up the running early in the straight from Well Ridden but Youlneverwalkalone was never out of a hack and challenged between the pair before the last - going away after the final flight and cruising past the line in third gear.
'I don't want to get carried away yet. He has to go to Cheltenham and win'. said Roche afterwards.
'We have always thought he was good. He has plenty of pace and stays well.'
'Some of my horses weren't right at the start of last week but the vet gave them the all clear on Friday.'
Roche will leave a decision on a Festival target until closer to the date.
'I have a race in my head for him but I wouldn't want to say anything at this stage.'
Owner McManus was delighted with the performance of the six-year-old.
'I'm very pleased. I had no idea before the race which Cheltenham race we would aim him at and I'm still none the wiser.'
The SunAlliance Chase beckons for Native Upmanship who showed tremendous battling qualities to land the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase.
Arthur Moore criticised the slow pace in the two mile five furlong contest but the winner showed admiral resolution to overcome that problem ? getting up by half-a-length from Commanche Court.
Alexander Banquet cut out the running as has become customary in top novice chases this season and only gave way when pressed by Commanche Court and Native Upmanship going to the last.
The pair settled down to fight out a thrilling finish with Native Upmanship asserting in the final 150 yds. To Your Honour found a second wind to run on gamely for third.
The race lost some of it's appeal for form students when Castle Sweep unseated Richard Johnson at the second, thus denying them a chance to assess the relative merits of the novice crops on both sides of the Irish Sea.
'He's very game, very hard to beat. It's a pity that the pace was so slow. The English horse (Castle Sweep) fell because they were going so slow.' said Moore afterwards.
'From an experience point of view I would have preferred a quicker pace and with Cheltenham in mind I would have liked a real good test.
'I'm looking forward to Cheltenham, three miles around there will be completely different.'
Moore doubled up in the TC Matthews/Brintons Carpets Handicap Hurdle when Phariwarmer gained the narrowest of victories from Taoibhin.
Sungazer (16/1) may also have booked his place on the boat to Cheltenham after a smart performance in the opening Barclays Spring Juvenile Hurdle.
Noel Meade's charge was transformed for the removal of blinkers, settling well for big-race hero Paul Carberry, and finding a lovely run through to lead around the final bend. The gelding was sent on after the last for a comfortable three-and-a-half-length success over Topacio.
'I've always thought quite a lot of him and he's entered in the Triumph.' revealed Meade.
'The last day he ran here he was far to free so we decided to take the blinkers off him on Friday.
'We schooled him and he jumped this way and that. We thought we might have to bring him back to the flat but he has winged everything today.
Sheltering met with only his second defeat under Rules when failing to get to grips with Dan's Your Man in the Leopardstown Hunters Chase.
Edward O'Grady's promising gelding had chased home Gold Cup prospect Castle Mane at Punchestown last April but failed to reproduce that form today ? finishing only third.
Willie Mullins rounded off a memorable day when Adamant Approach joined a growing list of Cheltenham Bumper prospects from the yard after success in the Weatherbys Ireland Flat Race.
