GAVIN Cromwell couldn’t have got a more timely boost to his season when Now Is The Hour capped a treble for the yard on Goffs Thyestes Day at Gowran Park on Thursday, and one of the yard’s most popular stalwarts is now set to return this afternoon.
After 486 days on the sidelines, Flooring Porter is back in action on Cheltenham Trials Day in the Grade 2 Betfair Cotswold Chase (2.25) - a four-runner affair that could even be reduced to three if conditions turn overly testing. Dan Skelton, trainer of odds-on favourite Grey Dawning, emphasised yesterday that the Betfair Chase winner will not run if the ground is heavy (described as soft, heavy in places on Friday afternoon).
The quartet is completed by the Jimmy Mangan-trained Spillane’s Tower, who has Jack Kennedy back on board for the first time since finishing a close second to Fact To File in the 2024 John Durkan Memorial Chase, and 11-year-old course regular L’Homme Presse.
In order to be eligible for the Randox Grand National, horses must have run in at least one chase during the current season prior to March 24th, and Flooring Porter will tick that box here if connections plan on a tilt at Aintree this spring. Current odds of 66/1 for that assignment could look pretty big.
Despite now being an 11-year-old, the former dual Stayers’ Hurdle winner is showing his trainer plenty of signs of encouragement at home.
“We are excited to have him back. He’s in great form - even if he’s 11, he still thinks he is six or seven,” said Cromwell.
“It’s a small field for starting back and while we did toy with the idea of going for the other race [Cleeve Hurdle], he might have had to make the running in that, so we decided to go for the chase.
“It would be a qualifying run for the Grand National, too, if we decide to go that route, although he isn’t certain to do that. He’s such a pleasure to have at home. His enthusiasm is fantastic to see, and I’m delighted to have him back out.”
Skelton latest
Skelton is plotting a route back to the Festival in March with Grey Dawning, priced between 10/1 and 14/1. With a rating of 166, he is the top-ranked runner in the select field, but must concede a 6lb penalty to Spillane’s Tower (164) and Flooring Porter (162).
“Grey Dawning is in great form and we have had this race in mind for some time,” said Dan Skelton.
“We want to take in this race on route to the Gold Cup. I think it is a good day out for him, but I would be nervous if it got really heavy and I’ve said that before as I think that is what cost us in the Betfair Chase last season. I just have to be a little respectful of that.
“I feel like we are in a good space, but what I won’t do on Saturday is be drawn into running on heavy ground. If it went heavy at Cheltenham then we are out. We wouldn’t go for the Denman Chase and we would just gallop him a bit more at home.
“I got him ready for the Betfair Chase first time out and having a gallop is more ideal than having a race on heavy ground. I feel like this is the year we have to prioritise the Gold Cup.”
Mangan has no negatives to report about his stable star, who ran encouragingly enough when third to El Fabiolo back over hurdles at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve.
“All is going well with the horse, I wouldn’t be going over otherwise,” he said.
“He seems to be on the way back and we’ve got Jack riding him. He’s in the Gold Cup and the Ryanair and we’ll know more after this.”
Veteran power
L’Homme Presse was the 4/5 favourite when winning this race 12 months ago but was a top-priced 11/2 shot at the time of print yesterday evening.
“We’re looking forward to it and it’s a home game for us which is a big plus,” said Andy Edwards, who owns the horse under the DFA Racing banner in partnership with Pam Sharman, Ray Sharman and Peter and Patricia Pink.
“He’s proven over this trip on the New Course and the others will have to bring their best game, we’re ready. I saw him on the gallops on Tuesday and he looked in top form, was moving nicely and we couldn’t he happier with him.
“For a four-runner race it’s a competitive race and they are Grade 1 animals in a Grade 2. We’ve got to have a go for it and we’ll enjoy it.
“The others will need to prove they stay on this ground over this trip and it’s like the new kids on the block coming to have a go at the old boy, but they’ve got to prove themselves to get past him, so we will see if they can get up that hill.
“We’re excited about it and you have to be when you have a great horse like him. If you look at his performances, he’s very consistent and we’re really looking forward to it. We’re revved up, Charlie [Deutsch] is revved up and most importantly the horse is revved up.”