From a dud at Downpatrick to the lord of Leopardstown – Porter floors rivals

On the final Friday of September in 2019, when walking up to a bank teller wearing a mask and asking for money was a crime rather than completely normal, Flooring Porter finished fourth of eight in a novice hurdle at Downpatrick. He was rated 104.

Fast-forward 15 months and Flooring Porter is as short as 10-1 for the Stayers' Hurdle, and no bigger than 12-1, after an outrageous all-the-way win in the first Grade 1 of the day at Leopardstown.

It was a first Grade 1 for jockey Jonathan Moore, who was bursting with excitement when asked whether Flooring Porter might be booked for a trip to the Cotswolds in March?

"Oh, he's going there anyway, that's for sure," he smiled. "He won't get it that easy out in front in the Stayers, but he's going there anyway."

The switch to front-running seems to have been the making of Flooring Porter, but Moore admitted the new style of racing happened by accident rather than design at Navan where he won a hot handicap hurdle by a dozen lengths.

Moore explained: "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 not even entered in the race originally and the syndicate who own him had to gather together €10,000 to run. It proved a very shrewd move.

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!"

Jonathan Moore (right): celebrated a first Grade 1 success in the Christmas HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

The withdrawal of last season's Stayers' Hurdle runner-up Ronald Pump due to a stone bruise erased some of the intrigue from this Grade 1, but it was still a fascinating showdown with the Gordon Elliott-trained pair Fury Road and Sire Du Berlais heading the market.

It was, however, another Elliott representative who stayed on into second as The Storyteller once again demonstrated his versatility with another solid effort.

"He's run a cracker and reversed Cheltenham form with Sire Du Berlais," said Denis O'Regan.

Moore seemed to be setting a very brisk tempo on Flooring Porter and, when the stamina-laden Sire Du Berlais loomed up on his outside on the home turn, he looked there for the taking. Or so we thought.

Instead, Flooring Porter kicked again and was still six lengths in front at the line.

Gavin Cromwell was not at Leopardstown but his assistant, Feidhlim Cunningham, said: "There has been huge improvement in him. 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."

Moore had previously won two Grade 2 contests during a stint with Rebecca Curtis, striking on Irish Cavalier in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in 2016 and Bigbadjohn in the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot the following year.

This was his biggest day yet and there could be more to come if Flooring Porter's progress continues. The rise has been remarkable.

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