Flooring Porter ‘on target’ for Stayers’ Hurdle defence

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Flooring Porter is “on target” for a Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle hat-trick bid, according to trainer Gavin Cromwell.

The eight-year-old was magnificent from the front in the hands of Danny Mullins in both 2021 and 2022, but his chances of lighting up Prestbury Park for a third time appeared to be in the balance having met with a setback following defeat in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

His hopes of making the Festival were described as no better than “50-50” at the time, but connections are now happy with their charge, who returns to his beloved Cheltenham as the 6-1 joint-fourth favourite with the race sponsor.

“We’re happy now and we’re on target to run,” said Cromwell.

“Obviously he missed a bit of work and that isn’t ideal, but we’re happy with him nonetheless. He’s in good form and hopefully now we can get him over there in one piece.

“With such an unideal prep, hopefully he doesn’t have as big a target on his back and we can be slightly under the radar.

“But we’re delighted to be getting him there – a month ago we were very unsure whether we would, so it’s great to be thinking he’s certainly going to run.”

Cromwell is also hoping that Vanillier can sparkle in the spring when he heads to the Randox Grand National on April 15 following a pleasing display in Fairyhouse’s Bobbyjo Chase.

Vanillier here winning at the Cheltenham Festival, is set to line up in the Randox Grand National
Vanillier here winning at the Cheltenham Festival, is set to line up in the Randox Grand National (Michael Steele/PA)

The former Albert Bartlett winner was coming off a back of a fall at the Dublin Racing Festival when lining up in the Grade Three contest, but produced a clean round of jumping to finish just half a length behind Kemboy in second.

He is now likely to head straight to Aintree and saw his odds trimmed to a general 25-1 for National glory.

Cromwell continued: “I was delighted with the run. He jumped and travelled well and it was a good run to finish so close to Kemboy. I suppose the third horse was a bit behind on ratings which wasn’t ideal, but it was a good run nonetheless.

“I would say he is unlikely to run again between now and Aintree, but he’s not definitely not going to run again.

“We don’t know which way he will take to the fences, but hopefully he will and we’re looking forward to it.

“He’s a horse who seems to come good in the spring, so hopefully that is the case.”

Johnston outlines Dubai and Ascot options for Subjectivist

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The Dubai Gold Cup and the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot are the options under consideration for Subjectivist, with trainer Charlie Johnston far from despondent following his comeback run in Saudi Arabia.

The six-year-old was making his first competitive appearance in 618 days in Saturday’s Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap, having been sidelined by injury since his brilliant victory in the 2021 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

Hopes were high that he could make a fairytale return to the winner’s enclosure in Riyadh – but after managing to get to the front from his wide draw, his early exertions took their toll and he faded to finish 12th of 13 runners.

While disappointed with the result, Johnston has not given up on the prospect of Subjectivist once again establishing himself as a major Gold Cup contender.

“Of course I was hoping he would run better than he did,” said the Middleham handler.

“But given the way race panned out, he was obviously very, very fresh after a long time off and that was more accentuated by the fact that Joe (Fanning) had to light him up a bit to get him over from that draw. Once he’d lit the fuse, there was no going back.

“He was very, very keen for the first circuit. It was always going to be a big ask after that long a lay-off, but once he’d been as keen as he was, it was no huge surprise to see him get quite tired in the closing stages.

“Obviously we hoped and dreamed he could come back and win – we wouldn’t have gone there if we didn’t think that.

“But at the same time for the horse to show that he’s still got plenty of enthusiasm for the game and I don’t think he looked out of place in that field, giving a stone to some of the best stayers in the world, at least the dream is still alive that he could still be competitive at the highest level in staying races this year.

“We were a little bit disappointed on the night, but we’re far from down and out, that’s for sure.”

Future plans for Subjectivist are slightly complicated by the fact his return flight from Riyadh has been delayed.

A tilt at the Dubai Gold Cup (March 25), which he also won two years ago, is not being ruled out but appears dependent on how quickly he recovers from his recent trip across the globe.

Charlie Johnston still has high hopes for Subjectivist
Charlie Johnston still has high hopes for Subjectivist (Mike Egerton/PA)

Johnston added: “They were originally due to fly back tomorrow (Wednesday) but that has now been delayed until Friday, so he won’t be home until then.

“At the moment he seems fine. We’ll get a better handle on things once he’s back home, but the initial signs are good, so that’s promising at least.

“This delay makes things worse in that there’s only four weeks between Saudi and Dubai and now, given the time it’s taking to get him home and the time he’d need to leave before the race at Meydan, he’d only be back here for two weeks, so that is obviously going to have to be factored in.

“If he doesn’t go to Dubai, something like the Sagaro would seem the obvious next port of call for him, but we’ll wait and see the horse when he gets home and speak to Dr Jim (Walker, owner) and make a plan from there.”

Henderson eager to maximise Festival firepower

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Nicky Henderson appears increasingly keen to split Epatante and Marie’s Rock at the Cheltenham Festival after seeing his two top-class mares enjoy a racecourse gallop at Kempton on Tuesday morning.

The JP McManus-owned Epatante won the Champion Hurdle three years ago and has been placed behind Honeysuckle in each of the past two seasons.

However, she has been left trailing in the wake of stablemate Constitution Hill in both the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle this season and rather than taking him on again in a fortnight’s time, she could be supplemented for another likely clash with Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle.

Marie’s Rock won the Mares’ Hurdle for the Seven Barrows team last year – but after seeing her work around Kempton’s all-weather circuit, Henderson hinted he is leaning towards allowing her to step up to three miles and take on the boys in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

Nico de Boinville aboard Marie's Rock at Kempton
Nico de Boinville aboard Marie’s Rock at Kempton (Zac Goodwin/PA)

“The only thing that would be up for discussion now – and I think this (workout) gives Nico (de Boinville) and myself a bit more of a clue – is Marie’s Rock,” said the trainer.

“I’ll talk to Tom Palin (of owners Middleham Park Racing) and we’ll have a look at the Stayers’ Hurdle. Nico was very pleased with her and Aidan (Coleman) was very pleased with Epatante. She isn’t technically in both (the Champion Hurdle and the Mares’ Hurdle), but she could go for either.

“JP will decide what he wants to do, but if Epatante went to the Mares’ Hurdle, I could see a very good reason for Marie’s Rock moving up to three miles in the Stayers’ Hurdle as that’s what that snapshot was telling us there.

“That scenario would suit me but it isn’t about me, it’s about trying to do the best we can for each individual horse. It does realistically give all three of them a shot of winning a race. It just feels a little bit like common sense after watching what was happening today.

“I thought Epatante was great and she’s in very good form within herself. She’s quite big but she didn’t have a big blow.”

Jonbon and Aidan Coleman at Kempton
Jonbon and Aidan Coleman at Kempton (Zac Goodwin/PA)

Other Henderson inmates to strut their stuff at Kempton included leading Arkle Trophy hope Jonbon (Coleman) and possible Turners’ Novices’ Chase runner Balco Coastal (De Boinville).

Henderson added: “Jonbon was good and he did get warm today, but that’s why things like this do him good.

“Balco Coastal worked very well and I’m thinking about the Turners for him. I do think we can have him sharper than what he was at Sandown (when second in the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase).”

Meanwhile, Henderson confirmed that the long-absent Buzz is highly unlikely to be part of his Cheltenham Festival squad.

The dual-purpose star won the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and Ascot Hurdle in quick succession in the autumn of 2021, but has been off the track since after fracturing his pelvis the day before an intended outing in the Long Walk Hurdle.

Buzz is very much back on the road to recovery, but Henderson feels a tilt at the Stayers’ Hurdle could be a bridge too far at this stage.

He said: “The only one who probably won’t go to Cheltenham is Buzz and I’ll probably concentrate on Aintree and possibly the Flat.

“He’s in very good form and is doing plenty of work. I was talking to the owners over the weekend and I don’t think that going three miles over hurdles on your first run for a year and a half is really a very sensible thing to be doing.”

Delta Work tops 20 in the running for Glenfarclas gold

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Defending champion Delta Work heads 20 entries for the Glenfarclas Chase over the cross country course at the Cheltenham Festival.

The 10-year-old gave Gordon Elliott his fourth win in the race 12 months ago when playing the role of pantomime villain and spoiling the retirement party of five-time Festival winner Tiger Roll.

He went on to finish second in the Grand National and connections are treading the same path once again with the son of Network, who is the general even-money favourite for his return to Prestbury Park.

“Two weeks is a long time in racing, but hopefully he gets there in piece,” said Eddie O’Leary, racing manager for owners Gigginstown House Stud.

“The plan is to go there then Aintree. He’s all grand this year and if the next two weeks go well, then all systems are go.

“Last year was brilliant and just goes to show racing is fair and above board. We would have all loved Tiger to have won, but Delta had to work too.

“He’s a brilliant horse and he seems to enjoy this test, especially the Cheltenham cross country, and it’s fantastic to have those races available to put a smile on these older horses’ faces.”

Gordon Elliott Stable Visit – Longwood
Gordon Elliott with Delta Work at his yard at Longwood in County Meath, Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)

Delta Work is joined in the list of potential starters by stablemate and last year’s Gold Cup fourth Galvin, while Snow Leopardess and Trials Day one-two Back On The Lash and Deise Aba are other names of note.

However, there will be no French challenge this year with the connections of Hip Hop Conti and Galcoflaur both electing to stay at home.

Willie Mullins boasts 14 of the 44 entries for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, although there is no place for his recent Punchestown scorer Ballyburn – who was as short as 7-1 in places for the closing race on day two of the Festival.

The Closutton battalion is led by ante-post favourite It’s For Me, while the hand of owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede is bolstered by stablemate and Leopardstown scorer Fun Fun Fun, with the mare also high up in the betting.

The JP McManus-owned Fact To File went close when second in a bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival and is another possible for the Mullins teamsheet, although the fly in the ointment could well be the unbeaten A Dream To Share, who quickened the best part of three lengths clear of Fact To File to claim Grade Two honours at Leopardstown.

The John Kiely-trained five-year-old was quickly snapped up by McManus in the aftermath of that contest and his racing manager Frank Berry is hopeful the green and gold will have strong representation at Cheltenham.

He said: “They are both in good form at the minute and their trainers are very happy with them. The intention is they will both run.

“Time will tell how the Leopardstown race works out, but it looked a competitive race on the day and both horses performed well with the winner quickening up nicely. Hopefully if they both get a clear run, they will both turn up there (Cheltenham).”

Billaway made it third time lucky in the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase when edging out Winged Leader 12 months ago and both feature amongst the 35 entries for the amateur jockeys’ contest.

Constitution Hill sparkles in Kempton spin

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Constitution Hill was the star attraction as Nicky Henderson put several of his Cheltenham Festival contenders through their paces in a racecourse gallop at Kempton.

A trip to the Sunbury venue has become an annual event for the master of Seven Barrows as a means of putting the finishing touches to his big guns ahead of the the showpiece meeting in the Cotswolds.

The biggest gun of all bound for Prestbury Park in a fortnight’s time is Constitution Hill, who won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle by a staggering 22 lengths at last year’s Festival and will return as a red-hot favourite to provide his trainer with a ninth Champion Hurdle success.

Ridden by Nico de Boinville, the six-year-old was joined by stablemates Captain Morgs (Paul O’Brien) and Ahorsewithnoname (Daryl Jacob) on Tuesday morning and while Henderson admitted it is not easy to find work partners for his pre-eminent star, he was delighted with what he saw.

He said: “It all went to plan. It was difficult to do because, as I’ve been saying all week, I’ve been hunting the country for a miler that I was going to get to jump in halfway round the back straight!

“To be fair, the other two boys have done a great job there, because they’ve just done their own thing and Nico has done his own thing. It was two bits of work happening at once and they did a good job as they just minded themselves.

“I wouldn’t bother writing something titled ‘A day in the life of Constitution Hill’ as it’s about the most boring thing you could write! That’s except for days like this of course, when he comes and does what he loves doing.

“I haven’t had one who’s given you the problem of how to work him. We always used to put Sprinter Sacre and Simonsig together because when you’ve got two really good horses like that, if you do put them together you’ve got to have two seriously good riders.

“Constitution Hill is fit and he’ll have another piece of work at home, but it’s quite difficult at the moment without the grass. Good old Barney (Clifford, clerk of the course at Kempton) let’s us come along and do that and I love doing it.”

Nico de Boinville and Constitution Hill stretch clear at the end of their workout
Nico de Boinville and Constitution Hill stretch clear at the end of their workout (Zac Goodwin/PA)

Constitution Hill carries the colours of owner Michael Buckley, who was on hand to see his pride and joy.

He said: “I’m looking forward to it and it’ll be fun, I hope the horse puts on a good show. As we stand here today, he’s potentially the best horse I’ve ever had and perhaps he already is. He’s got to do it on the big day though.

“My nerves are chattering away and have been for weeks! When you get horses that are odds-on like that, the expectation is that he’s already won the race.

“I feel that it’s a rather sad fact of life that if he only wins by a length or two, everyone is going to feel a sense of disappointment. I’ll be thrilled of course, but he’s done a lot of showy things and I guess people are hoping for a show.

“We need two bits of luck, we need to get there in good shape and then we need Nico to have a bit of luck in-running and get him round without any issues and then hopefully we’ll win.”

Classic hope Commissioning suffers career-ending injury

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Fillies’ Mile heroine and leading 1000 Guineas contender Commissioning has been retired after suffering a career-ending fetlock injury.

The daughter of Kingman made a big impression on her racecourse debut for John and Thady Gosden at Newmarket’s July Course last summer. She doubled her tally in the Rockfel Stakes before providing jockey Robert Havlin with a first Group One success in the Fillies’ Mile in October.

With Frankie Dettori set to get back on board in his final season before retirement, hopes were high Commissioning could provide him with a fifth 1000 Guineas success over the Rowley Mile in early May, but a setback has forced connections to call time on her racing career prematurely.

Jake Warren, racing and bloodstock advisor to Commissioning’s owners Isa Salman and Abdulla Al Khalifa, said: “Commissioning sustained an injury to her left hind fetlock which has unfortunately proven to be significant and thus she won’t be able to continue to be trained.

“It’s very frustrating news, but she has given the owners and breeders an amazing thrill by becoming the first Bahraini homebred Group One winner.

“Of course a filly of this calibre, with her CV, will be an incredible asset to breed from in the future.”

Colonel Mustard set to make hurdles switch in Morebattle

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Colonel Mustard switches to hurdles at Kelso on Saturday with Lorna Fowler hoping to secure the first leg of an audacious quick-fire double in the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle.

Third in the County Hurdle behind State Man at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, the eight-year-old was sent novice chasing in the early part of this season and was last seen finishing a well-beaten second to Arkle hope El Fabiolo.

Fences were soon placed on the back-burner with the Betfair Hurdle entering the picture, but when the unseasonably quick ground ruined that idea, a new plan was quickly hatched, which begins at one of Fowler’s old stomping grounds this weekend.

The winner of the Kelso handicap will qualify for a bonus of £100,000 if following up in any race at the Festival and although the County Meath-based handler insists the Morebattle Hurdle is definitely plan A, victory could set up a return to the County Hurdle in just over two weeks.

“We just need to jump through a few more hoops,” said Fowler. “He’s doing his last piece of work today, but I’m very happy with him and as long as we get through today, then we’ll be all set to go for the Morebattle.

“The plan had been to go for the Betfair Hurdle, the ground scuppered that one and then we kind of had our eye on the County, but this was kind of staring us in the face a little bit.

“Obviously it is a massive ask to travel twice, but the bonus is a very tasty carrot to have a go at. It’s my old stomping ground and I’m happy with any excuse to go back to Kelso. The ground looks like it will be in good nick and we’re all set.

“The target is very much the Morebattle – it’s a very valuable race and it fully merits being our target – but the double is in mind given the bonus that is on offer. It’s plenty of travelling but hopefully it is well worth a go.”

No stone has been left unturned by Fowler in her bid to pull off the feat achieved by Emmet Mullins with The Shunter in 2021, and Colonel Mustard has been given plenty of practice over the smaller obstacles since his short spell over fences.

Fowler added: “He’s been back over hurdles and schooled over the white ones a couple of times as well, so we have made sure he knows what they are like. It does make a difference to them, they definitely see them.

“We also gave him a schooling race at Fairyhouse when we didn’t go for the Betfair and the timing tied in quite well – it came at a good time anyway.”

Hosie ready to Rock at Cheltenham

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Syd Hosie is counting down the days until the Cheltenham Festival, where he hopes to land a telling blow for the home team with Rock My Way.

The promising young starlet of Hosie’s Sandhills Farm base put himself in the Festival picture when building on an encouraging debut to scoop Grade Two honours on Trials Day.

That victory came over a touch more than two and a half miles, but the five-year-old will step up to three miles for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle when he returns to Prestbury Park in just over two weeks.

His price for that Grade One contest ranges from 14-1 to 25-1 and Hosie is relishing the prospect of pitting his talented son of Getaway against Ireland’s best staying novice hurdlers.

“He’s flying and is fresher by the day, so roll on March 17 and all roads lead to Cheltenham,” said Hosie.

“He had a good old look around when he hit the front at Cheltenham last time coming up the hill, but as soon as something comes up behind him, he pricks his ears and runs on again.

“A truer run race over three miles, I think we will see a hell of a horse.

“It’s really something to look forward to – getting him there and having a good crack at the Irish. It would be nice to get one on the board for the Brits.”

Hosie could also be represented at the Festival by his stable stalwart Lieutenant Rocco, who snapped a lengthy luckless run with a chase victory at Kempton at the weekend.

Lieutenant Rocco ridden by Thomas Bellamy clears a fence before winning the Coral Bet Bundles Handicap Chase at Kempton Park
Lieutenant Rocco ridden by Thomas Bellamy clears a fence before winning the Coral Bet Bundles Handicap Chase at Kempton Park (Nigel French/PA)

He holds an entry in the Pertemps Final over hurdles, but with a rating of 122 leaving his participation on the edge, the Sherborne-based handler has a back up plan of Kempton the day after the four-day Prestbury Pak extravaganza draws to a close.

He continued: “I’m not sure his hurdle mark will go up with his chase mark, so he might not get in. If he doesn’t, there’s a 0-150 at Kempton the Saturday after Cheltenham, so we might go there with him.

“It’s been a long time coming to get him to win and to do it in my name made it all the more sweeter really.

“He’s a lovely horse and we all know what he can do on the track.”

Brookhouse harbouring Champion aspirations for Sarsons Risk

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Ben Brookhouse has full confidence in Sarsons Risk and is already plotting a path to the 2024 Champion Hurdle with his talented son of Caravaggio.

The four-year-old was Newmarket-based Brookhouse’s first winner in the training ranks when bolting up at Doncaster earlier this month and the handler’s belief in his charge was demonstrated by pitching him straight in amongst Grade Two company for the Adonis Hurdle.

Sent off 10-1 at Kempton on Saturday, he was in the process of running a huge race on the front end before taking a crashing fall at the third last.

However, Brookhouse – who previously served as assistant to Ian Williams – reports Sarsons Risk to have escaped the fall unscathed, with the performance only reinforcing the lofty regard in which he holds the horse.

He said: “Sarsons Risk has been a revelation since having his wind done and my very bold statement is I think he is the best juvenile we have in the UK at the minute.

“He was setting very bold fractions when he came down at Kempton and someone said to me he hit the ground doing around 37 miles per hour.

“If he had fallen at the last there would be a lot of people talking about him, but Robbie (Dunne, jockey) was doing his best to get a breather into the horse and that is the reason he was only a length and a half clear and once he had landed at the back of the third last, he would have skipped clear.

“We know he can sustain a gallop off a strong pace – he showed that at Doncaster – and for me the horse seems to have improved since Doncaster.”

He went on: “In my mind he is probably the best juvenile in the UK and although it would have been nice to get a Grade Two on the board with just my third winner, I’m not massively disappointed.

“I feel sorry for the horse that people didn’t get the chance to see how good he is, because I think he is very special and we will be training him to be something very special.”

Sarsons Risk will now be aimed at the Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree on April 13, although Brookhouse is already looking ahead to next season, when he hopes his charge can develop into a Champion Hurdle contender.

“He’ll have a small break now and go home and have some grass and just enjoy himself,” continued the Saville House Stables handler.

“He deserves a bit of time off following the two big efforts he has put in. Then we will probably be going to Aintree with him.

“We did talk about running him on the Flat this summer, but I expect we will see him in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle at Cheltenham in October. That will hopefully show his potential to be a Champion Hurdle prospect for next year.

“He resembles a Constitution Hill type of horse in that he can travel at speed and gallop at speed. His jumping wouldn’t be as good as Constitution Hill, but it is only because he is so confident and so slick and so quick. He is still a big baby and his jumping will improve and maybe in a years time we might look back and think the fall is the best thing to happen to him as he won’t want it to happen again.

“I think he’s pretty special and if he was rated 20lb higher on the Flat, I would be considering the Chester Cup. But you only get so many miles after a wind op before it is a case of refreshing and retouching.

“He could be Champion Hurdle quality and my aim for him next year is to go for a Champion Hurdle.”

Cooper’s Cross chasing Doncaster double in Grimthorpe

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Stuart Coltherd is eyeing a Doncaster double as Cooper’s Cross prepares for the Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase on Saturday.

The eight-year-old has been in good form all season, starting out with a win in a Carlisle handicap chase before placing in successive contests at Aintree and Musselburgh.

The Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster in late January brought about a step up in trip to three miles, a staying distance the gelding seemed to relish when prevailing by a length from Cap Du Nord under Coltherd’s son Sam.

That form was then boosted when the latter horse was a seven-length winner of the Swinley Chase at Ascot next time out.

Cooper’s Cross will return to a familiar track for his next outing, however, and is aimed at the Grimthorpe at Doncaster on Saturday.

Cooper’s Cross ridden by Sam Coltherd after winning the Sky Bet Handicap Chase
Cooper’s Cross ridden by Sam Coltherd after winning the Sky Bet Handicap Chase (Richard Sellers/PA)

The three-mile-two-furlong contest is another step up in trip for the gelding, something his trainer is hoping he will take in his stride at the weekend.

“He’s very well, he’s in at Doncaster and that would be the plan,” he said.

“He seemed to get the three miles at Doncaster last time, so I can’t imagine two furlongs would make a big difference to him.

“The form looks pretty solid, so we’ve got our fingers crossed.

“It’s good to have a horse that can compete in these races and he seems at the right end of the handicap anyway. We’ll just keep going with him and see how we go.”

Cooper’s Cross is one of 12 entries for the handicap highlight, with last year’s winner Undersupervision in contention for Nigel Twiston-Davies, while Kim Bailey’s Does He Know and the Charlie Longsdon-trained Castle Robin are among the leading lights.