Paisley Park and Flooring Porter, the winners from three of the last four seasons, are both in the field for the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday and while the former would be a hugely popular winner, Gavin Cromwell’s eight-year-old looks the better bet at around 6-1 to complete a hat-trick in the day’s feature event.
Flooring Porter (3.30) has failed to score in three starts since his two-and-three-quarter length success 12 months ago, but he was winless in three before that victory too and should perhaps have set a stronger clip when only fourth behind Home By The Lee, another of Thursday’s rivals, at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.
Danny Mullins knows exactly what is required around three miles at Cheltenham, however, and while the six-year-old Teahupoo is a live contender for the next generation of stayers, his best form is on heavy ground and he was a disappointment on his only previous start at the Festival.
Cheltenham 1.30 The latest big banker for the Irish and Mighty Potter’s form is very difficult to fault. He was sent straight into Grade One company after winning a beginners’ race in November and has scored decisively in two top-level races since, including a defeat of Gaillard Du Mesnil, Tuesday’s National Hunt Chase winner, at Fairyhouse in December. His latest victory at the Dublin Racing Festival was backed up by a strong time and Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old surely has better still to come.
Cheltenham 2.10 The qualifier for this race at Haydock in February was run in a strong time on similar ground, and the runner-up, The Changing Man, lines up for the Final off just a 2lb higher mark. He is more exposed than some of his rivals but also admirably consistent, having finished first or second in his last six starts, and is a very tempting each-way option at around 20-1.
Cheltenham 1.30 Mighty Potter 2.10 The Changing Man (nap) 2.50 Shishkin 3.30 Flooring Porter 4.10 So Scottish (nb) 4.50 Magical Zoe 5.30 Beauport
Hexham 1.50 Caithness 2.30 Dysania 3.10 Vandemere 3.50 Prince Dundee 4.30 Mr Harp 5.10 Tom Creen
Southwell 5.05 Habanero Star 5.40 Thomas Equinas 6.10 Daafy 6.40 High Ovation 7.10 Shining Crystal 7.40 Wadacre Grace 8.10 Ustath
Chelmsford City 6.00 Lilkian 6.30 Class Member 7.00 Zealot 7.30 Kessar Power 8.00 Dawn Vega 8.30 Angle Land
Cheltenham 2.50 The aura of invincibility that surrounded Shishkin in the first three seasons of his career vanished in last year’s Champion Chase, but he returned to something close to peak form when stepped up in trip at Ascot last month. At his best, he is the better part of a stone clear on ratings and a repeat of his latest performance should be more than enough.
Cheltenham 4.10 It goes against the grain to back a short-priced favourite in a 24-runner Festival handicap, but Emmet Mullins, the trainer of So Scottish, took this race with a similar type in The Shunter two years ago and his claims are impossible to ignore. The six-year-old made short work of his first two starts over fences before finishing second at Ascot on his handicap debut over an inadequate trip and should improve significantly for the return to two-and-a-half miles.
