THE Gavin Cromwell-trained Flooring Porter earned himself a tilt at the Grade 1 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when making all under Jonathan Moore over the full three-mile trip in the Grade 1 Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle as 2020 drew to a close.

The Yeats gelding’s six-length success was a first at this level for Cromwell’s stable jockey and for the bay’s owners, the Flooring Porter Syndicate, who, at the suggestion of the trainer, had shelved out €10,000 to supplement their star into the race.

That brave move came on the back of the then five-year-old’s near all-the-way victory in an extended three-mile handicap hurdle at Navan in early December when he had 12 lengths to spare over his nearest rival at the line.

The syndicate, which comprises father and son Tommy and Alan Sweeney, their brother-in-law/uncle Kerril Creaven and spokesperson Edward Hogarty, all hail from the west of Ireland (south Roscommon and east Galway) as does Flooring Porter who was bred at the Ryehill Stud in north Co Galway by Sean Murphy.

Having been offered at the Goffs Land Rover Sale, Flooring Porter was purchased by his owners as an unnamed three-year-old directly from Cromwell having inspected the gelding at the trainer’s Balrath, Co Meath yard.

“Myself, Tommy and Alan travelled up to Gavin’s to see the horse but, as it was a Sunday, Kerril couldn’t rd come as he was working,” related Edward Hogarty. “Gavin had the horse advertised on Facebook. We were looking for a fun National Hunt horse and we sure found him. Gavin was an up-and-coming trainer, big enough to compete but with an easy approach. Since we met him, we have had no drama and get on grand. He has great facilities and a great team behind him.”

Pint Of Porter

When it came to naming their new purchase, the foursome stuck close to home. “I’m in the flooring and carpet business, while Alan and Kerril are publicans. Tommy is a retired publican and psychiatric nurse. Our colours are black and white just like a pint of porter!”

Sent straight over hurdles as his racing career commenced in July 2019, Flooring Porter got off the mark the following month when, on his fifth attempt, he landed an extended two-mile maiden at Bellewstown.

Moore was in the saddle that day, when the gelding won a three-mile handicap at Cork the following October and also when he scored over half a furlong longer at Gowran last July.

Of course, life was very different for the owners when Flooring Porter recorded his first two victories in pre-pandemic times as Hogarty explains. “There’s nothing more enjoyable than a day at the races and having a horse running, and then winning, in your silks makes it more special!

“We were all in Cork the day he won, as were my own father and son [Ned], but, unfortunately, the other lads weren’t in Bellewstown as Kerril’s mother, who was Tommy’s mother-in-law and Alan’s grandmother, had died, so our friend Paddy came with me.”

While on hand when Flooring Porter finished second at Navan last February, Covid-19 restrictions have meant that the syndicate have been unable to see their horse run this season and they were particularly disappointed not to get to Galway in late July.

Then, ridden by the Cromwell yard’s 5lb-claimer Conor McNamara, Flooring Porter finished third in the two-mile, seven-furlong Grade B Guinness Handicap Hurdle.

“Anyone I know who’s involved in horses would love a winner in Galway!” enthused Hogarty. “We attend every year religiously as the craic is unrivalled. Although we weren’t there in person on the Friday evening this time, we did watch the race together while enjoying a few pints of the sponsor’s finest! It’s not looking great at the moment but, if it’s deemed safe to travel, we will be there bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!”

Flooring Porter is the only horse the syndicate members are involved in at present. “The sport is probably a business for the more commercial owners but for us, and many others like us who have just the odd horse, racing is a bit of fun and having one or two horses in training is plenty as costs are high. I was involved with another syndicate and we had a winner on the flat but we would much prefer the jumps.

DREAM COME TRUE

“It’s been a dream come true to own such a successful horse. Having a horse good enough to run at the Cheltenham Festival, which we go to every year, is unbelievable. And then you start to dream … maybe he’ll win … then, should he win, would he go back to Prestbury Park in 2022 to defend his Stayers’ crown or should he go chasing which is the long-term plan?”

Will the Yeats gelding remain in the syndicate’s ownership is another question. “Sure look, if a substantial offer was to come in for Flooring Porter it would have to be considered but it would have to be substantial! When you get into racing, it’s every owner’s dream to have a good horse.”

The foursome certainly couldn’t be termed hands-on owners. “None of us ride; we’d all be too difficult to repair after a fall out hunting or something so we stick to the armchair!

“Outside racing, we would be keen enough sports fans, particularly GAA. My son and daughter pony ride and they love it. They go to the Creagh Equestrian Centre in Ballinasloe once a week. It’s run by the Carey family and Damien looks after them well.

“The other lads in the syndicate know the breeders of Flooring Porter well. They are from Monivea and it’s great for them to have bred a Grade 1 winner. Sean (Murphy), who is chairman of the Western region of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, is very passionate about his horses.”

Actually, the ‘other lads’ are connected through marriage to the Murphys who used to work and show Irish Draught horses before becoming involved with thoroughbreds.

“Miles Apart, Flooring Porter’s grandam, was one of two four-year-old fillies the family bought in 1997 and raced under the ownership of the Hillbillies Syndicate,” revealed Sean.

“Lady Jemurco (by Un Desperado) won one race on the flat but bred nothing of note. While she never won, Miles Apart bred two winners, Ocean Glandore (by Whitmore’s Conn), who has won six races (four over hurdles and two over fences) and Flooring Porter’s dam, Lillymile (by Revoque), who won a point-to-point and two hurdle races.”

ROY KEANE

Lillymile has bred five foals to date, the first being Pull Like A Dog, so called after rowing stars, the O’Donovan brothers. That 2014 Milan mare was named by Sean’s partner, Chris Burke, whose stable moniker for Flooring Porter as a foal was Roy Keane as he was so tough; yes, she is from Cork.

“We sold Flooring Porter as a foal at the 2015 December National Hunt Sale at Goffs where he was bought by Richard Rohan (for €6,000) but he failed to find a new home when sent to the Land Rover Sale there three years later. Next we heard about him was when the lads bought him.”

Since foaling the Grade 1 winner, Lillymile, who comes from the family of the 1954 Irish Cambridgeshire winner Turkish Treasure, has produced a Tobougg filly (2016) and two foals by Elusive Pimpernel, a 2017 colt and a 2020 filly. As she was not in foal this year, she should be off to stud shortly.

“We sold the Elusive Pimpernel colt but have held on to the two fillies for the present anyway,” reported Sean. “We broke the Tobougg during the summer and now have her back in on the walker and on the lunge.

“We’re undecided as yet as to what we will do with her. We could put her on the market or we might run her in a point-to-point. My nephew, Darren Collins, who is based with us here has a handler’s licence so, if she does run, he will train her.

“Darren bred Youcantcallherthat (Grade 3 John & Chich Fowler Memorial Mares’ Chase), who was the biggest winner foaled here until Flooring Porter came along, while I’ve also bred Barnaviddaun (Grade B Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle). Along with my parents, John and Peggy, we will all be glued to the television when Flooring Porter runs in the Stayers’ and wouldn’t it be fantastic if he could win at Cheltenham as did the west of Ireland-bred Faugheen and Montelado.”

Back to Edward Hogarty, who realises Flooring Porter will face a strong challenge at Prestbury Park with the 2019 winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle, Paisley Park, leading the home defence along with Thyme Hill. Among the Irish entry are the Willie Mullins-trained Benie Des Dieux, runner-up in the Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle last March, and the Gordon Elliott-trained trio of The Storyteller, Sire Du Berlais and Fury Road who finished second, third and fourth to Flooring Porter at Leopardstown.

It was hard to know at the time of writing to what degree the lockdown will have eased come Festival time, but Hogarty had been finding himself, or rather his horse, a topic of interest around Ballinasloe after Christmas. Hopefully, he and his fellow owners, plus Flooring Porter, will raise the spirits of those in the west come March 18th. ?