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.
