An impeccably judged front-running ride by Danny Mullins helped Flooring Porter retain his status as the leading stayer over timber at Cheltenham on Thursday, on a St Patrick’s Day afternoon when Irish-trained horses took all three of the Grade One events.
Mullins had a grip on the three-mile Stayers’ Hurdle from the off, jumping into a handy lead as Klassical Dream, the favourite and another potential front-runner, proved reluctant to start before settling towards the rear. The 2019 winner, Paisley Park, who was also reluctant to line up before his last race, jumped off with the field but never threatened to land a blow as Mullins dictated from the head of the field.
