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Flooring Porter, the dual Stayers’ Hurdle hero, galloped his rivals into submission to secure a commanding victory in the Guinness Kerry National at Listowel.
Gavin Cromwell’s stable star, a Cheltenham Festival winner in 2021 and 2022, had switched to fences last season before reverting to hurdles, where he finished second in his bid for a Stayers’ Hurdle hat-trick at Prestbury Park in March.
After a well-beaten return from a break in a handicap chase at Killarney in July, the nine-year-old roared back to his brilliant best in County Kerry under Keith Donoghue.
Taking the lead from the outset, Flooring Porter jumped fluently overall and built up a healthy advantage over the chasing pack. His nearest pursuer, Patrick Neville’s British raider The Real Whacker, unseated Sam Twiston-Davies racing down the back straight, leaving Flooring Porter clear.
From there, the result was never in doubt. Donoghue remained comfortably in front rounding the home turn, and although Horantzau D’Airy made some late headway, the 6-1 shot Flooring Porter crossed the finish line with four and a quarter lengths to spare.
“What can you say? It’s brilliant. He went hard, and I have to say I was praying for him over every fence on the last circuit,” said Cromwell. “He just kept the revs up; it was a brilliant performance.”
When asked if he thought his charge might tire in front, he added, “No, that wasn’t a worry. I was just afraid he might miss one or something. He was in serious shape. When he gets into that rhythm, there’s no stopping him; he’ll just keep it going.
“Keith said he was just a passenger; he couldn’t go any slower! What do you do? Just try to meet the jumps the best you can.
“This has been the plan since Cheltenham, basically. We can always go back over hurdles as well, but I don’t know where we go next. It’s a brilliant race to win, and we’ll enjoy this.
“He’s been a horse of a lifetime for me and for the syndicate.”
Horantzau D’Airy tried valiantly to catch Flooring Porter but still finished over four lengths behind at the finish.
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