Flooring Porter grabs Stayers’ Hurdle again for all-conquering Irish

Flooring Porter, trained by Gavin Cromwell and ridden by Danny Mullins, won the Stayers’ Hurdle for the second year running at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday. Thyme Hill was second and 2019 race winner Paisley Park was the third-placed horse.

The Irish raiders were in their element on St Patrick’s Day, winning three of the first four races on the card.

Danny Mullins had the winner in the lead right from the start. He said: “I never saw [a rival] but I could hear them. I love the horse but he’s quirky. [Gavin’] training of him is why we’re here again. He was relaxed this morning and showing his sparkle.”

Gavin Cromwell, the winning trainer, was a relieved man afterwards: “When all the rain came yesterday I was worried but he’s got some engine.”

Earlier, Bob Olinger was handed victory in the Turners Novice Chase after Galopin Des Champs took a dramatic fall at the final fence in the opener at Cheltenham.

Galopin Des Champs looked certain to land the spoils when he jumped the last well clear of Bob Olinger, but he slipped and knuckled over a stride after landing and ditched Paul Townend onto the ground.

That left Bob Olinger (6-5) to come home unchallenged with Busselton picking up the pieces for second place in the four-runner Grade One heat, 40 lengths behind the winner.

Until that untimely exit everything had gone to plan for Galopin Des Champs. Willie Mullins’ six-year-old had jumped exuberantly in the early stages and had Bob Olinger under pressure before the race was turned on its head and the 5-6 favourite crashed out after seemingly clearing the last safely.

Winning trainer Henry De Bromhead said: “You never want to win in those circumstances,but this game – always expect the unexpected and we’re delighted to