5.25 3m. 14 Declared. Ladbrokes Champion Stayers H'dle (Grade 1) of €250,000.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €150,000.00 2nd - €50,000.00 3rd - €25,000.00 4th - €12,500.00 5th - €7,500.00 6th - €5,000.00
FormscanBy Alan Magee - FLOORING PORTER was beaten off a mark of 131 in a Gowran Park handicap last October but a switch in tactics to make the running has turned him inside out. Gavin Cromwell’s charge routed the opposition in a valuable Navan handicap and showed that was no fluke with Grade 1 wins since at Leopardstown and Cheltenham. Beacon Edge, The Storyteller and Fury Road were among those swatted aside in the Stayers’ Hurdle last month and a reproduction of that form would surely be good enough here. Ronald Pump was runner-up in the Stayers’ Hurdle last year but has been sidelined since a very promising second to Honeysuckle in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse in November. Heaven Help Us is improving at a rate of knots and is one that could hassle the selection for the lead, while Klassical Dream was an exciting novice hurdler two years ago winning three Grade 1 races but has not been seen since a disappointing run at Leopardstown 16 months ago. This is a huge step up in trip after a length lay-off but he’s certainly an interesting rival.
A hurdle for four years old and upwardsWeights - 4-y-o 11st 5-y-o 11st 11lbs 6-y-o and up 11st 12lbs Mares allowed 7lbs