Escartefigue takes on Pearl again.

Escartefigue is set to take on old rival Florida Pearl plus Dorans Pride in the Heineken Gold Cup over three miles one furlong at Punchestown next Wednesday.

David Nicholson yesterday confirmed Escartefigue, who finished second to Macgeorge in the Martell Cup at Aintree on his most recent start, a runner in the most valuable event at the four-day Festival.

And while Escartefigue has finished behind Florida Pearl on their three previous meetings, Nicholson is looking forward to another clash with Willie Mullins' stable star.

He said yesterday: "Escartefigue is very well. The ground is soft at Punchestown and if it stays that way it will suit our horse. He ran a very good race at Aintree, there is better to come and I think Punchestown will suit him."

Meanwhile, Mullins reports Florida Pearl, third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, on schedule for the big race. He said: "Florida Pearl worked over one and a half miles after racing at Leopardstown on Sunday and I was delighted with him."

Nicholson's Punchestown runners also include his Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle winner, Anzum, who will again clash with Cheltenham second Le Coudray in the Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers' Hurdle next Thursday.

Katarino, the Triumph Hurdle winner, will head Nicky Henderson's team for the meeting in the I.A.W.S. Champion Four Year Old Hurdle.

Henderson is also planning to send Big Matt for the BMW Chase, which the 11-year-old won last year when the race was a handicap, on Tuesday, while the trainer's other runners at the meeting will include another Cheltenham winner, Stormyfairweather, in the David Austin Memorial (Novice Handicap) Chase.