Cheltenham Festival hero bids for more big-race glory on Grand National day

THEY brought the house down in Cheltenham last month and now connections of champion staying hurdler Flooring Porter are hoping to do the same at Aintree on Saturday.

Not since Dawn Run’s epic Gold Cup triumph in 1986 has there been celebratory scenes to match at the famed racetrack in the Cotswolds until Flooring Porter came up trumps again in the Stayers Hurdle last month.

Having won the Grade One prize before empty grandstands in 2021, supporters of the West of Ireland owned high-class hurdler made their presence felt in no uncertain terms with their unbridled celebrations in Cheltenham just three weeks ago.

Owned by the Ballinasloe-based Flooring Syndicate comprised of Kerril Creaven, Ned Hogarty, and Tommy and Alan Sweeeny, the popular seven-year-old is now bound for Liverpool.

Flooring Porter is just one of 10 entries for the Grade One JRL Liverpool Hurdle, which offers a prize fund of £250,000 and shares the same card as the world-famous Aintree Grand National.

Gavin Cromwell’s stable star is set to renew rivalry with Paisley Park, Thyme Hill and Champ who all finished in Flooring Porter’s slipstream at Cheltenham.

Once again, Danny Mullins made all on the reigning champion and though the posse closed right up around the home turned, Flooring Porter had plenty in reserve before storming up the hill.

Creaven admits the syndicate are still on cloud nine after their horse’s Cheltenham exploits. “It’s been mad but great really. Everywhere we go people are congratulating us, even complete strangers. It’s fantastic and we are savouring every minute.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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