Cromwell open to Navan or Cheltenham next for Flooring Porter

Gavin Cromwell is considering the Lismullen Hurdle next weekend for Flooring Porter as he builds towards the Randox Grand National.

While far from guaranteed to take up the option at Navan – he could wait for the Cleeve Hurdle in January – Cromwell has made no secret of the fact he wants to end up at Aintree in April.

His task there has been made more difficult by the handicapper, who took a dim view of the way he won the Kerry National, but with two Stayers’ Hurdles also on his CV, he is already one of the stalwarts of the National Hunt game.

“Flooring Porter could run in the Lismullen, he’s not a certain runner. He was very good in the Kerry National and Keith (Donoghue) was very good on him, but he went up a stone for it,” said Cromwell speaking at the launch of the Navan Racing Festival.

“He’s not certain and if he doesn’t run we could wait and go to Cheltenham for the Cleeve. Potentially he could run in the Stayers’ again or he might just go straight to the National.

“He’s high in the handicap now, but he’s been a fantastic servant. He wouldn’t be a married man’s ride, he takes a bit of managing.

“He’s not that big so I wouldn’t say he’s a proper winter chaser, but he is very high in the handicap now.”

Looking ahead to the Bar One Racing Troytown Chase on Sunday week, Cromwell expects to have a couple of runners.

He said: “Perceval Legallois has threatened so many times, he’s fallen when looking like winning at Leopardstown last season, but he’s off a mark now that he might not be as well handicapped as people think he is as the handicapper has pushed him up. We’re just hoping there’s a big one in him. He should run as long as there’s no jar in the ground.

“Yeah Man should run, the ground will be fine for him, Hartur d’Arc is in the Paddy Power at Cheltenham and could potentially go there. Ask Anything could probably do with so more juice in the ground.”