Florida Pearl is set to return to action in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday week.
The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old finished a 10-length second to Francois Doumen`s First Gold in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day on his last racecourse appearance and has been rested since.
However, Florida Pearl is back in full work now as he prepares to win the Leopardstown contest for the third year in succession.
"He`s on course for the Hennessy," Mullins said today.
"I was delighted with the way he ran at Kempton but his jumping wasn`t sharp enough. He needs to sharpen up his jumping if he`s going to win races like that.
"I was quite pleased with how he came out of the race. He has had a nice little break since.
"But I will school him this afternoon and then he`ll work in the morning and again next week and that should put him right for Leopardstown."
Florida Pearl finished third to See MoreBusiness and second to Looks Like Trouble in the last two Tote Cheltenham Gold Cups and once again has chasing`s blue riband event as his main target.
"Cheltenham is the number one plan," Mullins said. "He handles the track well but it all depends on what happens on the day."
Mullins has entered Florida Pearl in the Martell Grand National and he added: "Aintree wouldn`t be part of the plan. I put him in the National just in case.
"The prize money is good and if you`re not in you can`t win."
Florida Pearl is a 12-1 chance with William Hill for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup. - PA