Racing: Florida Pearl forced out of Cheltenham by injury

Ireland's foremost steeple-chaser of the modern era is to miss the Cheltenham Festival and may indeed have brought his career to a close at the Closutton yard of Willie Mullins yesterday.

Florida Pearl, at the advanced age of 12, was found to be damaged goods at his Co Carlow premises, an injury discovered in one of his front legs. "The horse did not appear 100 per cent this morning and after veterinary examination he was found to have a ligament problem," Mullins said.

"We have decided to rest him for the remainder of the season as we wouldn't have time to get him back even for the Punchestown Festival. We'll have to talk about it with the owners as far as next season is concerned."

Florida Pearl, a dual Festival winner, was as short as 20-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, a race he has been beaten in across three attempts. He was third to See More Business in 1999, a personal best five-length runner-up to Looks Like Trouble 12 months later, but only 11th to Best Mate two years ago.

Watering finally began at Cheltenham yesterday ahead of the three-day Festival which starts a week on Tuesday. It had been delayed because of overnight frosts. Before water-ing began the going was "good to firm, good in places".