No stopping Loughnanes again at Wolverhampton

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Mark and Billy Loughnane continued their excellent run of form as they made it seven and six Wolverhampton winners this week respectively at Dunstall Park on Thursday.

The father and son combination teamed up for a Monday double at the Midlands venue, while the 7lb claiming apprentice also enjoyed a winner for Sean Curran to make it a treble on the day.

Together the Loughnanes claimed another two successes at Wolverhampton on Wednesday and wasted no time in adding to their tally on Thursday’s card either, with 13-8 shot Algheed following up last week’s course victory in the opening It’s Time To Turn To talkSPORT Fillies’ Handicap.

Loughnane senior was keen to heap praise on his son, who has now ridden 12 winners since January 5.

Mark Loughnane at Wolverhampton
Mark Loughnane at Wolverhampton (Simon Marper/PA)

“I keep saying it, but it’s just awesome – it’s the best feeling ever,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“Billy rides so well and his confidence is good. I’ve blown him up all the time and I need to stop now because he’s blowing himself up! He can talk and he can ride away.

“The horses are in great form and it’s just great. It’s a proud house and we’ll just keep it level.”

The Worcestershire trainer swiftly doubled up with the Luke Morris-ridden Serenity Rose in the talkSPORT Download The App Restricted Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

Serenity Rose and Luke Morris in full flight
Serenity Rose and Luke Morris in full flight (Simon Marper/PA)

Second on her last two starts, the three-year-old went one better as the 5-6 favourite.

He went on to complete his hat-trick in the Spreadex Sports Get 40 In Bonuses Classified Stakes, with 8-1 shot Won Love pulling clear of his rivals in the hands of Cam Hardie.

Loughnane added: “His first run for me over six furlongs was good. He’d been running over five furlongs before that and he just wanted to blitz.

“He hasn’t got the best wind in the world and we just want him to relax. The key today was that they went flat out.

“I said to Cam just to keep hold of him and let him finish off and it worked a treat.”

Dettori and Country Grammer aiming for Saudi Cup revenge

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Frankie Dettori has the opportunity for big-race glory on his farewell tour when partnering Country Grammer in the Saudi Cup.

Dettori guided the Bob Baffert-trained six-year-old to Dubai World Cup success last year and was reunited with the son of Tonalist at Santa Anita on Boxing Day, where the Italian began the American leg of his swansong by steering Country Grammer to victory in the San Antonio Stakes.

Country Grammer will now attempt to go one better than last year’s half-length second to Emblem Road in the the $20million Riyadh Group One and owner Amr Zedan – a successful Saudi Arabian businessman and breeder – is delighted to have the assistance of the 52-year-old as he attempts to win the world’s most valuable race.

Country Grammer and Frankie Dettori after winning the Dubai World Cup
Country Grammer and Frankie Dettori after winning the Dubai World Cup (Neil Morrice/PA)

“Frankie needs no testimony from me,” said Zedan. “He’s been great for the sport in every way – on the horse, off the horse or flying off the horse.

“His accomplishments speak for themselves. He’s a good friend and he will be missed. I hope he reconsiders his retirement by picking up mounts as he chooses over the coming months.”

Reflecting on Country Grammer’s effort in the contest 12 months ago, Zedan added: “It was my first appearance at the Saudi Cup and Country Grammer was an unknown commodity. He showed great tenacity to finish second and we were very proud of him,”

Zedan will also be represented by another Baffert-trained contender on February 25, with Malibu Stakes victor Taiba also in the running for the nine-furlong event.

Also an emphatic scorer at Santa Anita on Boxing Day, his owner hopes the four-time scorer can make his mark over a trip at which he has tasted top-level success previously in both the Pennsylvania and Santa Anita Derby.

He continued: “We really hoped we had something after he won the Santa Anita Derby in April and we always thought he would be the perfect fit for the race going from his three-year-old to his four-year-old year.

“The Saudi Cup was front and centre, we had to see how the rest of the year played out but with me being from Saudi, it was always a priority.

“He’s the kind of horse that works as good as his workmate. He has his own mind but he gives me a heart attack in every race, especially down the backstretch.

“The Malibu was an important race for him as it turned into a bit of a sprint. It was a good call by Bob to put him in the right condition to instigate that kind of speed and it was a good step.

“If you watch the Pennsylvania Derby, he was dropping back and then picked up. Mike Smith knows him well and they are a great combination. He makes Mike work – he was more exhausted than Taiba that day!”

O’Callaghan seeking Meydan heroics from I Am Superman

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Following previous triumphs in Ireland and Australia, I Am Superman bids to win on a third continent in the Zabeel Mile at Meydan.

The son of Footstepsinthesand won once at Leopardstown and twice at Naas as a three-year-old for Michael O’Callaghan before being sent Down Under for a tilt at the 2019 Golden Eagle.

He came up short in that hugely lucrative contest, but remained in Australia with Peter and Paul Snowden and went on to claim two Group Two prizes and was last seen being beaten a head in a Group One at Caulfield in September.

Now back with O’Callaghan, who retained an interest in I Am Superman throughout his Australian spell, the seven-year-old takes on a five-strong Godolphin team in Friday’s Group Two feature.

O’Callaghan said: “We’re delighted to have him back and he’s settled in well since he got to Dubai. He hasn’t ran in four months, but he’s in great form.

“It looks a tidy enough contest and we’re stepping back up to a mile, which I don’t think will be a problem.

“Whatever he does he’ll probably improve a shade from it, but he’s as good as we can get him without having a run, so we’re looking forward to running him.”

Explaining I Am Superman’s journey so far, the trainer added: “We still own him in the same partnership that’s owned him since he was a yearling.

“He was sold to go to Hong Kong as a three-year-old after he won three (races) and he failed the vet for something insignificant, which often happens.

“We thought he was such a decent horse we’d send him to Australia for the prize-money, he won over $750,000 down there and he was beaten a head in a Group One on his last start.

“He’s as good as ever and I was keen to get him home to go pot hunting with him here this year, both in Dubai and in Europe.

“He’s a seven-year-old now and most horses wouldn’t still be improving, but his last run was the best run of his life, so hopefully there’s a good year left with him and we’ll have a bit of fun.”

The highest-rated horse in the field is Master Of The Seas – one of two runners for Charlie Appleby along with Modern News.

Master Of The Seas winning the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket
Master Of The Seas winning the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket (David Davies/PA)

Master Of The Seas won the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket on his only start of 2022 and Appleby is expecting him to improve for his comeback run.

“Master Of The Seas hasn’t been seen since the Earl of Sefton but has settled in well out in Dubai,” the Moulton Paddocks handler told the Godolphin website.

“His preparation has gone well, although we are very much working back from Dubai World Cup night and Super Saturday, so there will be some natural improvement from whatever he does here.

“He looks to be in great order and we are very much looking forward to getting him back on track.

“Modern News is a consistent horse, who showed some decent form in Group and Listed races in the UK last year. He goes into this fit and well, and certainly won’t look out of place in the field.”

Saeed bin Suroor is set to saddle three runners in the Zabeel Mile
Saeed bin Suroor is set to saddle three runners in the Zabeel Mile (Mike Egerton/PA)

Appleby’s fellow Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor saddled Real World to claim the Zabeel Mile 12 months ago and this year launches a three-pronged assault.

Assessing their prospects, he said: “Desert Fire, Land Of Legends and Laser Show have been working well, but this looks a tough race for the three of them.

“Desert Fire has won over this course and distance in the past, so dropping back to a mile won’t be a problem, while Land Of Legends enjoys racing around Meydan.

“Laser Show has had soundness issues, which has kept him off the track for a long time, but I was pleased with his latest piece of work and he is ready to go again.”

David O’Meara’s Shelir and the Ahmad bin Harmash-trained Erzindjan complete the field, having finished third and fourth respectively in the Al Fahidi Fort a fortnight ago.

Harry Eustace’s Cite d’Or carries British hopes in the UAE 1000 Guineas.

The Galiway filly won at Brighton and Beverley last year and rounded off her juvenile campaign with sixth place in the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

She makes her first start since in the Listed event on dirt and sets the standard on ratings.

“She’s in good form. I’ve actually visited her myself since she’s been out there and what I’ve seen I’ve been very happy with,” said Eustace.

“The main thing is the dirt is the question mark. If she does handle it she’ll run well and if she doesn’t she won’t basically.

“If we’re in contention after the first three or four furlongs and we’re there turning in she’ll run a race, and if she’s had to work hard for the first half it usually means they’re struggling on the surface, so we’ll see.

“There are other options later on, both on dirt and turf, so in a way this will help us decide where we go next.”

No rush for Red Risk plans after Kempton near-miss

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Connections are hopeful they have found the key to Red Risk after his gallant performance in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday.

The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old started at 25-1 for the handicap, in which he was partnered by young conditional Freddie Gingell who eased an 11st 2lb burden with his 7lb claim.

After two miles and five furlongs, Red Risk and Dan Skelton’s West Balboa crossed the line in unison and a photo finish was required to announce the latter horse a short-head winner.

Despite the narrow loss connections are thrilled with their runner, who has not always shown consistency to match his ability but seems to have appreciated a longer gap in between races.

Tom Palin of owners Middleham Park Racing said: “I’m still convinced he won! I was there watching it and I thought he held on, my racecard went flying, I was jumping around like he’d won and then they called the photo.

“We were getting caught up in the emotion of it all, he was 25-1 but we thought he was a big price.

“He’s never really backed up runs consecutively like that, he does have a knack of winning and then disappearing, so we tried something a little different this time and that was leaving him as long as we dare between races.

“That was 49 days since his Newbury win, it seems that that’s the key to him – getting him nice and fresh and really happy at home. It was delight more than anything that the theory was right.

“He was terribly unlucky not to win the race, but he’s run an absolute blinder and everybody would have taken that at the start of the season. We’re delighted we’ve got another nice horse on our hands.”

Red Risk was raised 5lb to 147 for his efforts, but Palin feels his performance warrants some Graded entries further along in the season.

Paul Nicholls' Red Risk
Paul Nicholls’ Red Risk (John Walton/PA)

“He may be between a rock and a hard place, at the very top end of handicaps and maybe just lacking a couple of pounds for Grade Twos,” he said.

“If you took the Relkeel that Marie’s Rock won a few weeks ago, if he was 145 he’d have been entitled to have a go but you kind of have to be around 150 to be in the running.

“He could just be a bit betwixt and between, but he does deserve a place in those in those kind of races.

“Paul’s mentioning the National Spirit at Fontwell on February 16, that might come a bit soon and at Aintree there’s a handicap for him there on the Friday, but he could be a bit high for that.

“There is a Grade Two at Auteuil in June, a week before Royal Ascot, that’s a race I think he could go very well in too.”

Haddex Des Obeaux decision to be made for Moore

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Gary Moore is pondering his next move with runaway Warwick scorer Haddex Des Obeaux.

The six-year-old opened his account over fences when making all at Doncaster over the Christmas period, and showed improvement when blitzing the opposition from the front off a 6lb higher mark to land the Edward Courage Cup at the weekend.

Haddex Des Obeaux holds an entry for the Godstone Handicap Chase, which was originally due to be run on Friday’s abandoned Lingfield card but has been saved and moved to the Sunday of the track’s Winter Million weekend.

However, having been raised 10lb for his Warwick saunter, the switch has left Moore scratching his head as instead of competing under a 7lb penalty on the original date for the race, the son of Saddex would have to race off his new figure of 146 in the rearranged contest.

He said: “I was very pleased with him and he showed improvement that I didn’t really believe was there.

“I always thought he was a nice horse and my biggest worry was would he act on that testing ground. But the answer to that we found out is he is better on that ground.

“He might have beat a few out of form horses and a few might have underachieved on the day, but I thought he won quite well and he jumped well. He’s only a first-season novice and I was very pleased with him.

“The handicapper has put him up 10lb so he needs to progress again and he’s down to run in what was Friday and is now Sunday – which half mucks me up because if he was to run on Friday he runs with a 7lb penalty, but if he runs on Sunday he has to line up off his new mark which is 10lb higher.

“Whether we run or not it’s something I need to think about and decide on and speak to the owner. He’s come out of the race at Warwick really well, there’s some good prize-money on offer and the only good thing about it is it gives him an extra two days.”

It appears Graded assignments will be handed Haddex Des Obeaux’s way moving forward, with a return to Warwick for the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase and even the Arkle mooted as possible options.

And Moore hopes that further progression from the Olly Harris-owned gelding will see him end the campaign right in the mix with the best of the two-mile division.

“He wasn’t a cheap horse and he could develop hopefully into a decent two mile chaser,” continued Moore.

“The Kingmaker is an option, why wouldn’t you go back there (Warwick). He’s 146 now so handicaps are nearly out of the question.

Wigley Group Classic Chase Day – Warwick Racecourse – Saturday 14th January 2023
Haddex Des Obeaux ridden by Jamie Moore goes on to win The Wigley Support Fund Edward Courage Cup Handicap Chase during the Wigley Group Classic Chase Day at Warwick (Nigel French/PA)

“He’s in the Arkle which if you’d have suggested that two weeks ago I would have said you are crazy – you probably aren’t going to get the ground which improves him at Cheltenham but you never know with this country. Whether we go there or wait for Liverpool I’m not sure.

“He’s going to be running in these races hopefully and there’s nothing better than a good two-mile chaser. It’s probably not the strongest division in Graded races – look at the Clarence House on Saturday, it’s only three runners.”

He added: “He’s got to progress a lot (to reach that level) and I have a lot of respect for the likes of Energumene, Shishkin and Edwardstone – they are very, very good horses.

“He’s got a long way to go to be up with that sort of class but I would love to see him do it for the horse’s sake, the owner and ourselves most of all.”

Ascot call Thursday inspection ahead of Clarence House card

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Saturday’s high-profile fixtures at Ascot and Haydock will have to pass inspections if they are to go ahead.

Ascot’s card features the Grade One LK Bennett Clarence House Chase, but the Berkshire track has been unraceable since Tuesday morning and clerk of the course Chris Stickels will hold a 4pm inspection on Thursday to assess the prospects of racing.

He said: “We are currently unraceable, the track is frozen in places. It is even frozen in places under the frost covers.

“We were not raceable at all yesterday, despite temperatures getting up to 5C during the day.

“It got down to -1.75C last night and we want to see if there is any improvement today.”

Haydock was hit by snow overnight
Haydock was hit by snow overnight (Nigel French/PA)

Haydock is due to stage four Grade Two events, including The New One Unibet Hurdle and Peter Marsh Chase.

However, the Merseyside venue was hit by snow overnight, prompting clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright to call a noon inspection on Friday to assess whether racing can go ahead.

He said: “We have had half an inch of snow overnight with a frost, so things are not looking as good as they were.

“We have called an inspection for noon tomorrow and we would need to see the snow gone by then if we are to persevere.

“It depends on which forecast you look at – on the most optimistic it’s just about feasible, but on the most pessimistic we will be beaten.”

Jumps action is also scheduled at Taunton on Saturday, with officials calling an 8am precautionary inspection on raceday.

The course is currently raceable, but frost is forecast.

There will be no turf racing in Britain on Friday – a fourth successive blank day – as Market Rasen called off their card following a noon inspection on Thursday.

Florida calling for red-hot youngster Billy Loughnane

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Billy Loughnane continued his red-hot form with a double at a frosty Wolverhampton on Wednesday – and his reward will be a trip to the warmth of Florida for a month to further hone his trade.

The apprentice rode a treble at Dunstall Park on Monday, including two winners for his father, Mark.

And the family partnership teamed up successfully with City Escape and Broughtons Flare to make it 12 winners for the young rider since the turn of the year.

City Escape (5-1) earned his third win at the track, with Loughnane showing plenty of confidence to collar Richard R H B in the extended nine-furlong BetUK over 40,000 Live Streamed Races Handicap.

And after 11-4 favourite Broughtons Flare backed up a course and distance win nine days previously in the extended mile of the Spreadex Sports Best Premier League Football Odds Handicap, getting the better of Hot Day by a short head, the trainer revealed his plans for the youngster.

“It’s happy days, but we’ll probably send him to America now,” he said.

“I’m not sure if it is the right thing to do, as it is very hard to stop momentum.

“He is going to a friend of mine in Miami, David Meah. He has 20 horses out there and a lad down the road has 50.

“He is not going out there to ride races, he is just going to learn pace. It is different gravy and he will come back better – and that’s what we want. I’m as proud as punch, though.”

Plumette/Wolverhampton
Plumette completed a double for jockey Rossa Ryan (Simon Milham)

David Loughnane (not related) was also among the winners, as Plumette (11-1) came with a wet sail to mow down The Nail Gunner in the dying strides of the seven-furlong handicap under Rossa Ryan.

Though Ryan found gaps closing on him at every turn, he eventually found daylight as the mare went on to score following a 168-day break.

“I probably thought she was a pound or two too high, but she always runs well fresh,” said Loughnane.

Wolverhampton Racecourse
Wolverhampton kept the show on the road after an inspection (Simon Milham/PA)

“We have kept her nice and fresh and she’s only 80 per cent fit. I knew she’d be doing her best work near the line.”

That made it a double for Ryan, who had earlier scored on the James Tate newcomer Majestic Warrior, a close relation to the useful Bright Approach, who justified favouritism in the extended nine-furlong maiden, scoring by a handy two and a quarter lengths, despite running green.

Ryan Sexton/Wolverhampton
Ryan Sexton was among the winners on a frosty afternoon (Simon Milham/PA)

Ryan Sexton made plenty of waves last season with a half-century of winners and the 3lb claimer was on the mark for trainer Alan Brown when Crownthorpe (13-2) battled back to deny Fast Style in the extended mile handicap.

It was the former Richard Fahey-trained eight-year-old’s second win in as many starts since joining the North Yorkshire yard.

“Changing yards has done him the world of good,” said Sexton. “He’s a decent enough horse going forward. Alan’s horses are bouncing and they are all coming into form now.

“He normally gets dropped out and comes with a late run, but there was no pace on today, so we said we would get on with it. He seemed to be enjoying it. Every time I gave him a squeeze, he picked up. He just found another gear.”

Kensington Agent/Wolverhampton
Clifford Lee and Tony Carroll combined to score with Kensington Agent (Simon Milham/PA)

The Tony Carroll-trained Kensington Agent (4-1) was fresh from a 51-day break and dropped in trip, she duly gained a first all-weather success in the six-furlong handicap under Clifford Lee.

She had gone close at Kempton last time over seven furlongs, but this was the four-year-old’s first success since scoring at Bath in June 2021.

Lee said: “She ran well the last day when and has done everything well this time. She was back to six and I got first run.”

Another blank day in prospect for National Hunt racing

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There will be no jumps racing in Britain or Ireland on Thursday after frost accounted for cards at Wincanton and Fairyhouse.

Tuesday was a wipeout on the National Hunt scene in Britain with Chepstow called off, while Wednesday cards at Plumpton and Newbury were also called off.

Thursday’s potential jumps cards were cut to just Wincanton, with Newcastle cancelled on Tuesday and Ludlow abandoned following an inspection on Wednesday morning.

Market Rasen's Friday card is subject to an inspection
Market Rasen’s Friday card is subject to an inspection (Mike Egerton/PA)

Officials at Wincanton had planned to inspect on raceday morning but with track reported to be still frozen on Wednesday afternoon, they made an early decision to cancel the fixture.

Market Rasen provides the next potential turf meeting on Friday, with Lingfield already called off.

The meeting is due to feature the Listed Alan Swinbank mares’ bumper, but the Lincolnshire venue must pass a noon inspection on Thursday if it is to go ahead, with the ground frozen in places.

Queens Gamble is declared to run at Market Rasen
Queens Gamble is declared to run at Market Rasen (David Davies/Jockey Club?

Clerk of the course Jack Pryor said: “We have called an inspection for tomorrow and we will have to make an assessment of conditions then.

“We are going to need the weather to help us out a bit.

“We got up to 4.5C today, but we are aware we have another two nights of frost to come.”

Fairyhouse will now race next week (
Fairyhouse will now race next week (Donall Farmer/PA)

Thursday’s fixture at Fairyhouse was called off following a 3pm inspection, although the card has already been rescheduled for next Wednesday.

Brendan Sheridan, IHRB clerk of the course said: “Following an inspection at Fairyhouse today, parts of the track remain unfit for racing.

“We have spoken with Met Eireann and with an unfavourable weather forecast again for tonight, we have no choice but to cancel tomorrow’s meeting.

“Having consulted with Horse Racing Ireland and with a rise in temperatures towards the weekend, this fixture will now take place on Wednesday, January 25.”

Cobden can hardly wait for Gold-en shot with Bravemansgame

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Harry Cobden says anyone who underestimates Cheltenham Gold Cup contender Bravemansgame does so at their peril, with the in-form rider confident the King George hero can shake up the Irish contingent at Prestbury Park in March.

Despite his impressive Boxing Day success at Kempton, the Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old is a 9-1 shot with Paddy Power for the blue riband, with Galopin Des Champs all the rage to provide Willie Mullins with a third Gold Cup as the 6-4 favourite.

Grand National hero Noble Yeats is another prominent in the market at 13-2 for Emmet Mullins, with Henry de Bromhead’s reigning champion A Plus Tard and Galopin Des Champs’ stablemate Stattler also shorter in the betting than Bravemansgame, both at 8-1.

Cobden, though, is a jockey riding the wave of a big-race success this season and he is in no doubt Bravemansgame has what it takes to make his presence felt in the Cotswolds.

He told TalkSPORT2: “I haven’t sat on him (since the King George), but he looks fantastic and the plan is obviously to go straight to the Gold Cup, so I’m very much looking forward to March.

“I thought when he ran at Wetherby (winning the Charlie Hall Chase) he was only 60 or 70 per cent fit – I didn’t think he was fit at all and he blew a little bit afterwards.

“I knew there was so much improvement there. By no means did I go into the King George and think all we had to do was jump round and we’d have it sewn up, but I was very, very confident going because he’d never felt so good schooling during the week and went there fresh.

“For some reason there were quite a lot of people that were doubting Bravemansgame going into the King George, I don’t know why.

“Every time he’s gone to a big occasion he’s never really delivered as a novice and I suppose one could say he’s been fairly well placed and been minded and when he’s come to the big day he’s let us down.

“But I think Paul has got him absolutely spot-on this year. He’s probably learnt how to train him a lot better, I’ve learnt to ride him a lot better and you’re really seeing the best of Bravemansgame now.”

Bravemansgame with connections at Kempton
Bravemansgame with connections at Kempton (John Walton/PA)

Perhaps the obvious reason for Bravemansgame’s inflated odds is the fact Nicholls suggested earlier in his career he viewed him more as a King George type than a Gold Cup horse, while he was firmly put in his place by Bob Olinger on his only previous appearance at Cheltenham in the 2021 Ballymore.

But Cobden is not unduly concerned about the change of venue or a step up in trip.

“I’ve never won a Gold Cup, but I’ve ridden in a few and he’s got to be one of the best horses I’ve ever ridden,” he added.

“With regards to the track, I don’t think it’s an issue. He’s a very well-balanced horse, he’s a good jumper and the only time he’s run there before I don’t think he was right.

“Going left-handed isn’t an issue – he’s won round Newbury and Newton Abbot and Haydock and a few other tracks. Is the trip an issue? Well he went three and a half miles on Boxing Day – whether you like it or not he went five wide the whole way round there.

“It’s quite funny how many people pick faults in him, but to be fair to him he’s been nothing but brilliant this year. From a jockey’s point of view, I’m very confident going into the race and I feel quite fortunate to be riding him.”

Another factor adding to Cobden’s confidence is his faith in his boss to get one ready for the day that really matters.

He said: “Paul Nicholls comes back from Antigua on Saturday and every time he comes back from holiday he’s got the bit between his teeth, so there’ll be no stone unturned.

“Since Boxing Day he has been training him for the Gold Cup. Maybe I’m slightly biased because I ride for Paul all the time, but I promise you now, I’ve never known a bloke to ready a horse for a certain day like he does.

“When he says he’s going to train one for a day, it’s unbelievable – he gets them 110 per cent for the day. They don’t even need to go for a racecourse gallop or anything.

“I don’t know how he does it, but I’ve never seen anything like it really.”

Flooring Porter’s Cheltenham bid hanging in the balance

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Flooring Porter’s bid for a third Stayers’ Hurdle victory is in doubt after Gavin Cromwell revealed his stable star was “50-50” to make Cheltenham after suffering a setback.

The eight-year-old was a brilliant all-the-way winner of the Paddy Power-sponsored three-mile showpiece in 2021 and was similarly impressive when successfully defending his crown last season.

Just as he did last term, Flooring Porter was set to return to the Festival off the back of successive defeats after finishing fourth in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan and in Leopardstown’s Christmas Hurdle.

Gavin Cromwell and Danny Mullins at Cheltenham
Gavin Cromwell and Danny Mullins at Cheltenham (Steven Paston/PA)

But whether he lines up at Cheltenham at all this time around is now far from certain.

Cromwell said: “I suppose we’re hanging in the balance there with Cheltenham. Hopefully we won’t be set back too long, but he’s likely to miss another two or three weeks.

“It’s far from ideal. I’d say it’s probably 50-50 he’ll make Cheltenham.”