Cheltenham legend and ‘horse of a lifetime’ Flooring Porter out for the rest of the season

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL legend Flooring Porter has been ruled out of the rest of the season due to an injury.

Gavin Cromwell’s front-running fan favourite was set to take on the Grand National this season after winning the Kerry National by miles last year.

Flooring Porter finished second behind Teahupoo in last season’s Stayers’ Hurdle.Sportsfile

Cromwell, said: “Unfortunately, it looks as though Flooring Porter will be out for the season.

“He’s picked up an injury and his return date suggests he’ll most likely miss the rest of this campaign.

“The timing of it means it’s unlikely he will be able to make it back for the big meetings in the spring, so it’s in the best interest of the horse to give him all the time he needs to recover.

“He’s been a real star for us so far so it’s really unfortunate that we won’t be able to see him again this term.

“He’s given connections some amazing days up until now and hopefully there will be many more of those to come.”

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This, he certainly has done. He’s finished first, fourth and second in his three attempts at the Stayers’ Hurdle at the festival.

And following his Kerry National win, his jockey Keith Donoghue was hoisted onto the shoulders of the crowd whilst they chanted “there’s only one Flooring Porter.”

The nine-year-old was carrying a whopping 11st 4lb – the second-highest weight to victory since 2006.

Cromwell went on to describe him as “the horse of a lifetime.”

Cromwell also provided some updates on his other horses.

He said: “Our star mare last season was Limerick Lace and she finished off her campaign with a valiant effort in the Grand National.

“She came out of the race, and the season as a whole, well and really earned her summer break.

“She’s trained well since she came back but she definitely wants some rain, which we haven’t really had yet this season.

“Her main target will be the John Durkan at Punchestown later this month, but she also holds an entry in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, although connections already have Corbetts Cross entered there. We have her in both just in case, we’ll see how things unfold and where the rain falls.

“The Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival will be her main target for the season, then with all being well she could potentially go to the Grand National again.”

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