Cheltenham Festival day three tips: Flooring Porter can power to hat-trick

P aisley 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 today’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