Flooring Porter and Jonathan Moore © Photo Healy Racing
The rapidly improving Flooring Porter led his rivals a merry dance to grab Grade 1 glory in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown this afternoon.
Jonathan Moore took the bull by the horns in the three-miler as the Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding made every post a winning one.
The 11/1 shot kicked for home turning into the straight and galloped on strongly from the last to record a six-length success. The Storyteller finished well from the rear to take the runner-up spot.
Flooring Porter was rated 95 when winning his maiden hurdle at Bellewstown in August 2019.
The Yeats gelding came into today with a mark of 150 after a wide margin success in handicap company at Navan earlier this month.
Assistant Feidhlim Cunningham said:- “There has been huge improvement in him.
“He's good going left-handed, obviously he won the €90,000 Grade B handicap in Navan and he was good that day.
“Fair play to the owners. We suggested supplementing him for this and they backed us. They put the money where their mouth is and it's fairly paid off.
“He's really improved and Gavin has done a wonderful job with him.
“Johnny has given him a peach again, it was a similar ride to Navan as he got breathers at the right times.
“We're absolutely delighted with that. You'd have to say Cheltenham would be on the agenda now and we're just thrilled to get the Grade 1 winner.”
Moore added:- "All credit to Gavin and the owners. They had the courage to supplement him for this race and it's paid off. What a horse!
"It wasn't the plan to make the running at Navan, but he just told me himself that he wanted to go there.
“When he's in front he seems to relax a lot better and you are able to get breathers into him.
"I felt like I was always in my comfort zone out there."
Flooring Porter was given a 12/1 quote by Paddy Power for the Stayers Hurdle.
