The victory took his prize-money haul to beyond the £700,000 mark.

But, although he has been placed in two Cheltenham Gold Cups as well as the Kempton showpiece last year, Florida Pearl has always had his fair share of critics.

He had become something of a 'nearly horse' in many quarters.

But they were well and truly silenced on Wednesday and Mullins said: "He appears in good order, a little bit of a cut on the hind leg but he jogged up sound in the yard and went straight to his feed box.

"He did yesterday what I thought he could always do and everything went right on the day. It worked out."

Florida Pearl was given a positive ride by Adrian Maguire, bowling along in the lead on the second circuit, jumping beautifully in the process.

"I said to Adrian we'd be a bit more positive and don't be afraid to go on when you feel," Mullins said. "He did that - a bit earlier than I thought! - but Adrian was happy with the horse.

"The horse is just so well in himself and Adrian didn't dissapoint him. I think the horse enjoyed the positive type of ride that he got."

Mullins confirmed that a bid for a fourth consecutive victory in the Hennessy Cognac Gold at Leopardstown would be the aim before another crack the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

"That's the plan," Mullins said. "They're the next two races all being well."