"We'll give him all the time he needs" - Injury rules Flooring Porter out for the season

The boisterous Flooring Porter Syndicate brought Cheltenham to it's knees in 2021 and 2022, as Flooring Porter collected back-to-back Stayers' Hurdles. Gavin Cromwell's star hasn't been able to capture Grade One glory again since, but Keith Donoghue's mount has placed in each of the last two renewals of that Championship race, while also winning over fences on an October trip to Cheltenham last October.

Flooring Porter looked set for another headline-grabbing campaign in 2024/25, after running a talented field ragged from the front to claim a dominant victory in the Kerry National. Cromwell had stated that the Grand National was the main aim for his stable star in 2025, while also suggesting that a fifth outing in the Stayers' Hurdle was in the offing too.

Sadly, those plans were put on hold on Friday, when Cromwell revealed that his nine-year-old had suffered a set-back.

“Unfortunately, it looks as though Flooring Porter will be out for the season." Cromwell said. 

"He’s picked up an injury and his return date suggests he’ll most likely miss the rest of this campaign."

“The timing of it means it’s unlikely he will be able to make it back for the big meetings in the spring, so it’s in the best interest of the horse to give him all the time he needs to recover."

“He’s been a real star for us so far so it’s really unfortunate that we won’t be able to see him again this term. He’s given connections some amazing days up until now and hopefully there will be many more of those to come.”

Cromwell hopes to see two of his other Cheltenham Festival winners fill the void left by Flooring Porter. Inothewayurthinkin won the Kim Muir under Derek O'Connor in March, before following up in Grade One company at Aintree. Limerick Lace triumped over two Willie Mullins' mares in the Mares' Chase and also went on to Aintree, where she failed to see out the trip in the Grand National.

Cromwell continued, "Limerick Lace has trained well since she came back, but she definitely wants some rain, which we haven’t really had yet this season.”

“Her main target will be the John Durkan at Punchestown later this month, but she also holds an entry in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, although connections already have Corbetts Cross entered there. We have her in both just in case, we’ll see how things unfold and where the rain falls.

“The Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival will be her main target for the season, then with all being well she could potentially go to the Grand National again.”

“Another we have entered in the John Durkan is Inothewayurthinkin, and he’s also another that will need a bit of rain before he gets a run. He’s likely to go to the John Durkan as he’s now ineligible for the Drinmore at Fairyhouse in early December due to having won a Grade One last term."

“His end goals will all depend on how the season unfolds. His name has been thrown into the ring for the Gold Cup, but it’s a big step up to go from your novice year to being up against the big boys. The John Durkan will likely be his first step and we’ll have a fair idea of what his level is after that. His jumping will need to sharpen up, so we’ll see how that progresses."