Tag Archive for: Gavin Cromwell

Gavin Cromwell sets sights on Nottingham with Sunset Shiraz

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Gavin Cromwell will saddle his first runner at Nottingham on Tuesday when Sunset Shiraz undertakes a raiding mission on the British EBF Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes.

Although the daughter of Time Test has only won once in her 11-race career, she has performed with real credit in some competitive races – placing at Group and Listed level four times at two and going close in two of her three outings last season.

She now tries 10 furlongs for only the second time following a pleasing return at the Curragh in March and her handler envisages no issues with the step up in trip.

Trainer Gavin Cromwell has never saddled a runner at Nottingham before
Trainer Gavin Cromwell has never saddled a runner at Nottingham before (David Davies/PA)

“The soft ground shouldn’t be an issue for her and although she hasn’t gone that far on this ground before, she’s a year older and hopefully she will get the trip OK,” said Cromwell.

“She should be fine over 10 furlongs. She had a nice first run back and we were happy enough. If she has come on for that, hopefully she will be thereabouts.

“She’s been placed in some very good races, we would love to win again with her but she’s really consistent. I’ve never been there (Nottingham) before but I’m looking forward to it.”

Sir Michael Stoute has won this twice in recent years with Sun Maiden (2019) and Noon Star (2022) and this time relies upon the upwardly mobile Crystal Caprice – a Frankel filly out of a Listed-winning sister to Crystal Ocean and Hillstar.

William Haggas’ Golden Lyra acquitted herself well last season before signing off with victory at Saint-Cloud in a Listed race, while Charlie Appleby’s Musidora second Life Of Dreams and Roger Varian’s Mukaddamah add further depth to the Listed contest.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Misty Dancer embarked on a three-race winning run last summer before disappointing in the Gillies Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster and is given a second chance to test her mettle at this level on her reappearance.

“Misty Dancer will like the ground at Nottingham as the rain that has come gives her every chance,” said Ed Crisford.

“Although proving versatile winning on three different types of going, she wants some cut in the ground.

“The horse has been working really well at home and is making more progress than we expected, which is promising ahead of her first run of the season.

“These Listed races are always very deep and wide-open contests but we fancy our chances to at least run into the frame.”

Ulster National victor Malina Girl headlines Cromwell treble

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Gavin Cromwell enjoyed a Downpatrick treble highlighted by Malina Girl’s Randox Ulster National Handicap Chase triumph.

The day hit a high note early on when Law Ella claimed the Cosy Roof Maiden Hurdle, justifying her 11-10 favourite status with a four-and-a-half-length success under Keith Donoghue.

The Toals Bookmakers Mares Handicap Hurdle then also went the way of the Cromwell team as Soldaro struck at 7-1 under Sean Flanagan to win twice on the bounce after a Clonmel victory last month.

The feature race on the card was the Ulster National, a three-mile-four-and-a-half-furlong contest won by another Cromwell-trained mare, this time the six-year-old Malina Girl – who gave Donoghue a double in the process.

Cromwell, who claimed the contest last season with Spades Are Trumps, was delighted that the horse could provide her new owners with a significant win so shortly after changing hands.

He said: “The owners (Colin and Jackie Russell) have literally just bought her last week. They haven’t had horses with me before, they have horses with Jonjo O’Neill.

“I gave her a bit of a break and she has been flying at home. I thought she would run a big race here.

“It was (very smooth), she’s a small, little mare but jumps really well.

“I was happy enough that the step up in trip wouldn’t be a problem to her. The fences are not that big around here, it is a summer track.

“She travelled very strongly for her first time over a trip like that. Keith saved plenty of ground around the inside as well. She did it quite well really.

“We won this last year and we were happy to keep the big trophy for a year on the mantelpiece. The kids were giving out that they wanted to keep it, so we will have it back!”

Flooring Porter aiming for Aintree redemption

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Flooring Porter is being prepared for a return to Aintree next month after coming up short in his bid for a Stayers’ Hurdle hat-trick at the Cheltenham Festival.

The eight-year-old was a brilliant winner at Prestbury Park in both 2021 and 2022 but endured an interrupted preparation ahead of his return due to a post-Christmas setback.

Trainer Gavin Cromwell stated in mid-January that his Cheltenham hopes were “hanging in the balance” and he was no better than “50-50” to make the trip to the Cotswolds.

Flooring Porter was ultimately deemed fit enough to defend his Stayers’ Hurdle crown, but after adopting his customary pacesetting role for much of the three-mile contest, he weakened in the home straight and had to make do with a gallant fourth.

Gavin Cromwell was pleased with Flooring Porter's performance in defeat at Cheltenham
Gavin Cromwell was pleased with Flooring Porter’s performance in defeat at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)

Cromwell was proud of his stable star’s performance in defeat, though, and is now targeting a second tilt at Aintree’s Grade One Liverpool Hurdle on Grand National day – a race in which he finished second to this year’s surprise Stayers’ Hurdle winner Sire Du Berlais last April.

“All is good with Flooring Porter – he came out of Cheltenham fine, which is obviously the main thing,” said the trainer.

“I suppose, considering he missed a bit of work, he ran well (at Cheltenham). He was beaten three and a half lengths, hopefully he’ll come on for it and we’ll take the positives out of it.

“We’ve a bit of extra time between Cheltenham and Aintree this year, which is also a help – we’ve a week more than last year.

“Hopefully we can build on Cheltenham – we might be on an upward curve.”

While Cromwell failed to add to his tally at this Festival, Flooring Porter was one of a number of horses to perform creditably.

Stumptown was beaten just a neck after being sent off favourite for the Kim Muir, while Final Orders finished fifth in his bid for a sixth successive win in the Grand Annual.

Letsbeclearaboutit was another Cromwell inmate to shape with promise, passing the post a close-up fourth in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

Cromwell added: “Final Orders didn’t really handle the ground and, all things considered, he ran a good enough race. We have him entered in the Topham at Aintree and that’s definitely a possibility.

“Stumptown ran a cracker and there were no excuses or hard-luck stories, he just bumped into one on the day and that’s it.

“I think we’ll probably look at the Irish Grand National with him. I know Easter comes quite soon, which is not ideal, but he has come out of Cheltenham well and it’s certainly a big possibility.

“Letsbeclearaboutit was too keen all the way in the Albert Bartlett and ran very well considering. If he had of settled, I think he would have finished closer.

“There’s two-and-a-half and three-mile novice hurdles for him in Aintree and there is also a race for him in Fairyhouse. I’m not sure where we’re going to go yet, but hopefully he’ll be running at some of the spring Festivals.”

Flooring Porter takes on 10 rivals in Stayers’ hat-trick bid

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Gavin Cromwell’s Flooring Porter will face 10 rivals as he bids to win the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday for the third time.

He has already joined the likes of Galmoy and Baracouda as a dual victor in the race and a third triumph would emulate Inglis Drever, although the indomitable Big Buck’s stands alone having won the race four times.

Flooring Porter has suffered an interrupted preparation this year but Cromwell has been pleased with his progress in recent weeks.

Winning connections celebrating Flooring Porter's success in the World Hurdle last year
Winning connections celebrating Flooring Porter’s success in the World Hurdle last year (Steven Paston/PA)

Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo is one of the young pretenders aiming to take his crown.

He caused a shock when downing Honeysuckle in the Hatton’s Grace and then proved his stamina in the Galmoy Hurdle.

Joseph O’Brien’s Home By The Lee was sixth in the race 12 months ago and has improved this term to win the Lismullen Hurdle and Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Blazing Khal is unbeaten in his last five races and returned from a mammoth absence to win on his only outing this season in the Boyne Hurdle, but trainer Charles Byrnes has endured a difficult time with him since that Navan run last month.

Klassical Dream faded into fifth when beaten favourite in this race last year and is another who has not enjoyed a straightforward preparation.

Sire Du Berlais and Ashdale Bob also represent Ireland.

The home team is consists of just two, previous winner Paisley Park and Jeremy Scott’s Dashel Drasher.

Dashel Drasher was second in the Cleeve Hurdle to Gold Tweet, who is trained in France by Gabriel Leenders. He has been supplemented along with fellow French challenger Henri Le Farceur.

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.”

Definite decision yet to be made on Arkle for Final Orders

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Gavin Cromwell is eyeing an ambitious tilt at the Arkle Trophy with his fast-improving Dublin Racing Festival winner Final Orders.

The seven-year-old has made remarkable progress since joining Cromwell last summer, with his first victory coming in a Bellewstown handicap hurdle in August when rated just 96.

Final Orders has since had his attentions turned the larger obstacles and while he was narrowly beaten on his chasing debut at Downpatrick, he has since rattled off a four-timer including back-to-back triumphs at Leopardstown.

A 9lb hike for his lucrative Dublin Racing Festival triumph means he is now on a lofty perch of 149, leaving Cromwell to consider a possible step up to Grade One level at Cheltenham next month.

“Final Orders is all good and at the moment I suppose the Arkle is the most likely place he’ll go, but he’ll probably get an entry in a couple of the handicaps as well,” said the trainer.

“He loves jumping fences and is such a good jumper. Realistically we’re probably only looking at a place chance in the Arkle, but you never know what can happen on the day.”

Final Orders is part of a small but select team of horses Cromwell is preparing for the showpiece meeting in the Cotswolds, with dual Stayers’ Hurdle hero Flooring Porter the star of the squad, provided he recovers from a setback in time to bid for the hat-trick.

Perceval Legallois in action at Leopardstown
Perceval Legallois in action at Leopardstown (Donall Farmer/PA)

Perceval Legallois, another Dublin Racing Festival winner, is also bound for Prestbury Park along with a few other stablemates.

Cromwell added: “Perceval Legallois is qualified for the Pertemps Final and I suppose that’s the obvious place to go. He was good in Leopardstown and we’re definitely aiming towards that.

“I’m happy with Jeremys Flame. She was a good winner in Huntingdon the last day and I’m and looking forward to going for the Mares’ Chase with her.

“We’ll let Letsbeclearaboutit take his chance in the Albert Bartlett and Path D’Oroux will probably go for the County Hurdle.”

Flooring Porter making good progress towards Stayers’ Hurdle defence

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Gavin Cromwell is “pretty optimistic” Flooring Porter will return to full fitness in time to bid for a third victory in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.

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

He has been beaten in both the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan and Leopardstown’s Christmas Hurdle so far this season, but as that was also the case last term there was no serious cause for alarm.

Gavin Cromwell (left) and jockey Danny Mullins celebrate after Flooring Porter's second Stayers' Hurdle success
Gavin Cromwell (left) and jockey Danny Mullins celebrate after Flooring Porter’s second Stayers’ Hurdle success (Steven Paston/PA)

However, Cromwell revealed in mid-January his stable star had suffered a setback that meant his hopes of making the Festival were no better than “50-50” and “hanging in the balance”.

A month on, though, and the County Meath handler issued a more positive update on Flooring Porter’s well-being, saying: “He’s done plenty of work and has taken it all good so far, so we’re pretty optimistic at this stage.

“As things stand I’d say we’re 70-30 or 80-20 (to make Cheltenham).”

In Flooring Porter’s absence a number of horses have thrown their hat in the Stayers’ Hurdle ring.

Blazing Khal heads the Stayers' Hurdle market
Blazing Khal heads the Stayers’ Hurdle market (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Charles Byrnes-trained Blazing Khal is the new favourite after making a successful return in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan, Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo staked his claim by winning the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park and French ace Gold Tweet came from nowhere to beat the best of the British in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham.

With Flooring Porter’s Navan and Leopardstown conqueror Home By The Lee also in the mix, the reigning champion is as big as 10-1 to join Inglis Drever as a three-time winner

“A few horses have come into it over the last few weeks and we’re just hoping we can get our horse back to Cheltenham in the same nick he has been the last two years,” Cromwell added.

Cromwell could be tempted by Arkle with Final Orders

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Final Orders continued his rapid rise through the ranks to highlight a handicap double for Gavin Cromwell at Leopardstown.

While three of the Grade Ones on the card predictably went the way of Willie Mullins, although not all in the expected manner, both valuable handicaps went to Cromwell who can seemingly do no wrong at present.

Final Orders (9-2), rated only 59 on the Flat and 102 over hurdles, has been transformed over fences and was making it five out of six from a mark of 140.

Cromwell said: “He has massive scope, they are big fences around here but he just has so much scope. He loves it and is just thriving off it.

“He was off 140 there today and he’s only 102 over hurdles so it’s been a massive transformation.

“When we schooled him at home he jumped great, he’s very clever, but he really came alive when we ran him. That’s obviously the best race he’s run in and Keith (Donoghue) said it was the best feel he’s given him.

“I don’t know where we go from here, we’re probably gone out of the Grand Annual now and we might have to have a look at the Arkle. We’ll definitely have to consider it anyway.

“We went there last year with Gabynako and it’s a race that if you jump really well it does bring you into the race and does give you a chance.”

Perceval Legallois pulls away under Mark Walsh
Perceval Legallois pulls away under Mark Walsh (Donall Farmer/PA)

Earlier Perceval Legallois (4-1) had given Mark Walsh a first winner back from injury in the Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle, in which Gordon Elliott’s hot favourite Maxxum was sunk without track.

Cromwell said: “He was really good, he ran well at Christmas and the horses are on fire at the moment. He travelled so sweet today.

“The horses have just taken a huge step forward and I’m grateful.

“He got the run of the race, they didn’t go a wild gallop. He had a nice possie and quickened well, he just did everything well.

“He’s qualified for the Pertemps and after winning today he’ll probably get in.”

The closing Shabra Charity Oliver Brady Memorial Future Stars Grade Two bumper went the way of John Kiely’s A Dream To Share (12-1).

Having won two seemingly weaker races in the summer, he took his form to a whole new level under John Gleeson, who powered away from Fact To File with a long way back to the third.

Kiely said: “We didn’t know how good the races he’d run in were. We freshened him up and aimed for this. Where we go from here I don’t know!

“If he’s well, Cheltenham will have to be next.

“We’ve always liked him at home, but we don’t have that much to work him with.

“It’s great for the Gleeson family (owner/breeders). They are neighbours of mine.”

Cromwell remains cautious but ‘bit more positive’ on Flooring Porter

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Gavin Cromwell is feeling more positive about the chance of Flooring Porter being able to defend his Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle crown at Cheltenham.

The dual winner of the race met with a setback last month that forced Cromwell to state his chance of running at the Festival was no better than “50-50″.

However, following a pleasing scan result this week the in-form trainer was able to be slightly more upbeat, without getting carried away.

“We got a bit of good news yesterday and we’re actually back riding him. He’s done a lot of swimming and hasn’t lost too much fitness,” said Cromwell, speaking at Leopardstown on Saturday.

“He’s going to be trotting for a few days, fingers crossed. He had to get a scan and it was good.

“I wouldn’t want to tempt fate, but it’s a bit more positive this week.”

Jeremys Flame too hot for Huntingdon rivals

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Jeremys Flame made some decent rivals look ordinary as she readily landed the Pertemps Lady Protectress Mares’ Chase at Huntington.

Gavin Cromwell’s nine-year-old had won a Grade Three over fences in November, but had been found out in top-class company when dropped in trip at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Back up to two and a half miles, Keith Donoghue sat at the back of the six-runner field on Jeremys Flame (3-1) before cruising up on the turn for home to challenge Zambella, who had made a mistake that halted momentum down the back straight.

Yet that would have made little difference to the result, as the winner sauntered to a six-and-a-half-length victory.

Cromwell said: “It was a lovely performance. It was good. We were back to two miles the last day at Grade One level and we thought we’d have to jump off handy.

“We thought at that level we mightn’t be able to travel with them, but as it turned out, she kind of raced a little bit too aggressively and paid the price for it in the end.

“She is entered in a handicap hurdle next week, but won’t go there. We’ll probably just go straight to Cheltenham for her.”

Paddy Power cut Jeremys Flame to 12-1 from 20s for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham on March 14, with Coral more impressed, offering 10-1.

Imperial Bede (8-1) stepped up on his Leicester hurdling debut to put 13 rivals to the sword in the Pertemps Network Maiden Hurdle under Jonjo O’Neill Jr, who was riding for his father.

The winning jockey said: “He settled better today as they went a proper gallop. He was a bit off his feet to start with and he blundered the first, but after that he worked his way into the race.

“I think he will want further than two miles in time, but he is a bit keen at the moment and is still a work in progress.”

Spotty Dog (12-1) travelled well and got off the mark over fences at the sixth time of asking under Liam Harrison in the Pertemps Network Novices’ Handicap, having taken advantage of a mistake by Furkash at the last.

He was the first winner of the season for trainer Michael Hawker, who also owns and bred the winner.

He said: “That is my first homebred winner. He has had 14 goes before, but I thought he would win today as he has come right all of a sudden.

“It is my first visit to Huntingdon, so I might have to come back now. This is quite a moment and I might have one or two later on. We will be going to the Neeld Arms in Grittleton and the drinks will be on me.”

Itchy Feet sparkled back over hurdles
Itchy Feet sparkled back over hurdles (Steven Paston/PA)

Olly Murphy’s string is in good heart at present and Itchy Feet (20-1) showed plenty of determination to take the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle under Sean Bowen.

His last success came in the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown in February 2020 and he was having his first run over hurdles since contesting the Grade Two Rendlehsam at Haydock just under two years ago.

Murphy said: “That was brilliant. He is obviously a horse that means a lot to me and he was just a happier horse back over hurdles today.

“I’m absolutely chuffed. He gave me one of my biggest days when I started training five years ago when winning the Scilly Isles at Sandown Park in 2020.

“To see him do that and jump and travel with the same enthusiasm as back when he was a good horse was brilliant. I’m absolutely over the moon.

“We might give the team out at day at Cheltenham now in the Pertemps Final. He has got a big engine and will go up in the weights whatever.”