[ad_1]
Patrick McCann
“title =” Flooring Porter – Hit First Start at Grade 1 Enterprise “class =” js-imageLoader “data-at-xn =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020 / 12 /28/86624-medium.jpeg “data-br-n =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/12/28/86624-medium.jpeg “data-br- m = “https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/12/28/86624-large.jpeg” data-br-w = “https://www.rp-assets.com/ images / news / 2020/12/28/86624-large.jpeg “data-br-xw =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/12/28/86624-large.jpeg “onclick =” return false; “>
By David Jennings
On the last Friday in September 2019, when approaching a bank teller in a mask and asking for money was a crime more than completely normal, Flooring Porter finished fourth out of eight in a rookie hurdle at Downpatrick. He was rated 104.
Fast forward 15 months and Flooring Porter is as short as 10-1 for Stayers’ Hurdle, and no bigger than 12-1, after a scandalous first grade 1 win of the day at Leopardstown.
It was first grade 1 for jockey Jonathan Moore, who was full of enthusiasm when asked if the Flooring Porter could be booked for a trip to the Cotswolds in March.
“Oh, he’s going there anyway, that’s for sure,” she smiled. “He won’t make it that easy for him up front at the Stayers, but he’ll go there anyway.”
The switch to the front race appears to have been the brainchild of Flooring Porter, but Moore admitted that the new style of racing happened by accident rather than by design at Navan, where he won an obstacle course handicap race by a dozen lengths.
Moore explained: “It wasn’t the plan to race Navan, but he told me he wanted to go there himself. When he’s up front, he seems to relax a lot better and you can breathe with him. I felt like he was always in my comfort zone.”
Flooring Porter didn’t even originally participate in the race and the union that owns it had to raise € 10,000 to run. It was a very clever move.
Moore added: “All the credit to Gavin and the owners. They had the courage to complement him for this race and it was worth it. What a horse!”
Patrick McCann
“title =” Jonathan Moore (right): celebrated a first Grade 1 hit at the Christmas hurdle “class =” js-imageLoader “data-at-xn =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images / news /2020/12/28/86625-medium.jpeg “data-br-n =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/12/28/86625-medium.jpeg ” data- br-m = “https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/12/28/86625-large.jpeg” data-br-w = “https: //www.rp- assets. com / images / news / 2020/12/28/86625-large.jpeg “data-br-xw =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/12/28/86625-large .jpeg “onclick =” return false; “>
The retirement of last season’s Stayers’ Hurdle runner-up Ronald Pump due to a stone bruise erased some of this Grade 1’s intrigue, but it was still a riveting showdown with the Gordon Elliott Fury Road and Sire-trained pair. Du Berlais leading the market.
However, it was another Elliott representative who stayed in second place as The Storyteller once again demonstrated its versatility with another solid effort.
“He ran a great run and reversed the form of Cheltenham with Sire Du Berlais,” said Denis O’Regan.
Moore appeared to be setting a very fast pace at Flooring Porter and, when the stamina-laden Sire Du Berlais appeared outside his home shift, he sought the shot. Or so we think.
Instead, Flooring Porter kicked again and was still six lengths away on the line.
Gavin Cromwell was not in Leopardstown, but his assistant Feidhlim Cunningham said: “There has been a great improvement in him. Fair play with the owners, we suggest supplementing him for this and they backed us. They put the money where it is and it has paid off. , he has improved a lot and Gavin has done a wonderful job with him.
“Johnny gave him a peach again; it was a similar trip to Navan, as he breathed at the right times.”
Moore had previously won two Grade 2 contests during a season with Rebecca Curtis, beating the Irish Cavalier at Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in 2016 and Bigbadjohn at Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot the following year.
This was his biggest day yet and there could be more to come if Flooring Porter’s progress continues. The increase has been remarkable.
Results, repetitions and analysis
Ultimate Daily – Our daily newsletters from the experts at Racing Post, exclusive to the Ultimate Members’ Club subscribers inbox. To receive the newsletter subscribe at racingpost.com/members-club
FIRST POST 1:31 PM, DECEMBER 28, 2020
[ad_2]