Keith Donoghue optimistic about Flooring Porter’s prospects for Grade 1 target in Stayers’ Hurdle at festival

The County Meath jockey has partnered the nine-year-old for all three of his starts over fences this season but is eager to see the festival winner revert to hurdles for an “open enough” contest in the Grade 1 feature on Thursday, for which he is currently best-priced at 33-1. “I’d say Gavin will leave it down to the last minute before deciding what race he goes for. The National Hunt Chase does look like a hot race this year, with the likes of Embassy Gardens going for it, so he might have to improve a little bit for that, while you could say the Stayers’ Hurdle is open enough bar Teahupoo, Irish Point, and Crambo. I’ll leave that decision up to Gavin but the Stayers’ Hurdle would suit me better.

While Donoghue is yet to claim a Graded win at the Cheltenham Festival he is no stranger to success at the meeting, having added to his hat-trick of victories on Tiger Roll in the Glenfarclas Chase with victory on the Gordon Elliott-trained Delta Work last year. “We’re leaning towards the Grand Annual with him but we’ll see closer to the time what makes it to the Arkle, because that could cut up,” Donoghue said. “We were delighted with his run at Christmas and I think the Grand Annual could suit him. Racing Post has got the best offers, all in one place.”