Gavin Cromwell is edging towards the Stayers’ Hurdle with two-time former champion Flooring Porter.
The nine-year-old clinched victory in both the 2021 and 2022 editions before settling for fourth place behind Sire Du Berlais in the previous season. This term, he embarked on his steeplechasing journey, triumphing over Broadway Boy in his debut at Cheltenham and securing third positions in both the Florida Pearl and the Neville Hotels Novice Chase.
While his participation in the Cheltenham Festival discipline remains uncertain, the withdrawal of Constitution Hill from the Champion Hurdle has triggered a domino effect on other races. Gordon Elliott’s Irish Point is now poised to feature in the Champion Hurdle, potentially paving the way for Flooring Porter to pursue another Stayers’ Hurdle challenge.
During a stable tour Cromwell shared,
“We are leaning towards the Stayers’ Hurdle. It's not set in stone but with Irish Point likely to contest the Champion Hurdle, that could sway our decision. We faced a rigorous Cheltenham preparation with him last year due to a post-Christmas setback, but he still put up a commendable performance. This year, his preparation has been much smoother. It's a fiercely competitive race, but if he reproduces his top form, he could vie with the best.”
Perceval Legallois currently ranks as the second favourite for the Kim Muir, but will not enter the race as Cromwell believes the assigned mark of 144 is too high. Cromwell stated,
“We have opted against running him at the Cheltenham Festival. The British handicapper was stringent in his assessment, so we will keep him on home turf.”
My Mate Mozzie is dual-entered for both the Grand Annual and the Arkle, with a stronger likelihood of participating in the latter event, particularly following Marine Nationale's exclusion from the contest.
Cromwell remarked,
“He is most probable to feature in the Arkle. Winning it would require his career-best performance, but he showed great promise when closely trailing the current favourite Found A Fifty at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting. The subsequent form has been promising. Despite unexpected positioning, he finished strongly, giving us confidence in his potential. Marine Nationale's absence can only bolster his chances. An improved ground condition will further enhance his prospects.”