Christmas Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Leopardstown 13:15 €100,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1  |
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| Monday 28th December 2020 | |
1 Flooring Porter 11/1
2 The Storyteller 7/1
3 Sire Du Berlais
11/4
7 ran NR: Ronald Pump, Sixshooter
Distances: 6l, ¾l, 2½l Time: 6m 37.80s (slow by 58.80s)
Fortune favours the brave!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 28, 2020
Flooring Porter was supplemented for this Grade 1 prize and does the business under a fine ride from Jonathan Moore at @LeopardstownRC 👏 @gavincromwell1 #LRCChristmas pic.twitter.com/5QawDCCfgj
Flooring Porter was given a fabulous front-running ride by Jonathan Moore, who judged his fractions perfectly in front aboard Gavin Cromwell’s five-year-old.
Having gone a good pace on the first circuit with the field well spread out behind him, he looked a sitting duck as French Dynamite, Sire Du Berlais and The Storyteller all seemed to still be going well, while favourite Fury Road was under pressure.
Moore asked Flooring Porter to quicken on the run to the last though, and the 11-1 shot responded in style as he pulled clear of the staying-on The Storyteller by six lengths, with Sire De Berlais a further three-quarters of a length back in third.
Cromwell’s winner was introduced into the betting at 10-1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle by Coral.
The winning handler was represented by Feidhlim Cunningham, who said: “There has been huge improvement in him.
“He’s good going left-handed. Obviously he won the 90,000 euros Grade B handicap in Navan and he was good that day.
“Fair play to the owners. We suggested supplementing him for this and they backed us. They put the money where their mouth is and it’s fairly paid off.
“He’s really improved and Gavin has done a wonderful job with him.
“Johnny has given him a peach again – it was a similar ride to Navan as he got breathers at the right times.
“We’re absolutely delighted with that. You’d have to say Cheltenham would be on the agenda now and we’re just thrilled to get the Grade One winner.”
Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle
3m , Race Value: €100,000, Grade 1
7 ran
Going: Soft
1 Flooring Porter 5 11-12 Gavin Cromwell Jonathan Moore 11/1
2 6 The Storyteller 9 11-12 Gordon Elliott Denis O'Regan 7/1
3 ¾ Sire Du Berlais 8 11-12 Gordon Elliott Mark Walsh 11/4
4 2½ Fury Road 6 11-12 Gordon Elliott Sean Flanagan 13/8F
5 ¾ French Dynamite 5 11-12 M F Morris Rachael Blackmore 8/1
PU Bacardys 9 11-12 W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins 12/1
PU Bapaume 7 11-12 W P Mullins Paul Townend 11/1
NR 6 Ronald Pump 7 11-12 Matthew J Smith NON RUNNER
NR Sixshooter 5 11-12 Noel Meade NON RUNNER
