'Danny Mullins, take a bow' - Fitzgerald and Walsh on super Flooring Porter ride

Flooring Porter retained his Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle crown thanks to a potential ride of the season from Danny Mullins, which ITV pundits Mick Fitzgerald and Ruby Walsh declared was "magic" in the post-race analysis.

Mullins – who was adding to an impressive haul this season which includes Tornado Flyer's victory in the King George – rode Flooring Porter confidently from the front but left enough in reserve to press ahead just before the last and keep on for an impressive success.

Fitzgerald, who partnered Bacchanal to win this race in 2000, said: "Danny Mullins, take a bow. He's deflecting all the praise to Gavin Cromwell but he's given this horse a brilliant ride.

Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle full result and race replay

"To make all in a race like the Stayers' Hurdle you've got to get your fractions spot on. That's exactly what he's done here so he should give himself a very large pat on the back."

Ruby Walsh famously rode Big Buck's to four wins in the race before adding a further success with Nichols Canyon in 2017, and he hailed the instinct of the jockey, in particular at the conclusion to the race.

"It was a brilliant ride," the jockey added. "Flooring Porter may end up being the next Big Buck's but he's a much harder ride than him.

Flooring Porter and Danny Mullins approach the final hurdle in front

Flooring Porter lands on the run-in but starts to hang

"Danny was magic on him, it takes bravery – and I could use a couple of other words I can't say on national television – to slow a horse down on the top of the hill and he stacks them up behind him.

"His hands rose as he slows Flooring Porter down to put them in a bunch and does it again. He doesn't quicken it over the second-last, Jonjo O'Neill is right behind him on Champ, Royal Kahala is going as fast as she can and Thyme Hill is in the pocket.

"Danny has a little look to see what's happening, sees Champ and Klassical Dream and has another look at the big screen – he wanted to know what was happening around him."

Walsh went on to discuss the moment the horse hung after the last: "All the pressure is on the right rein and it's the skill he then shows to correct the horse from hanging that I really admire. Danny uses his left hand over on the right rein to straighten Flooring Porter, then back on the reins and away they go.

Flooring Porter hangs on the run-in

Danny Mullins uses his left hand on the right rein to straighten Flooring Porter up

Mullins has his hands back on the reins and powers Flooring Porter to the finish

"That's skill, that's magic and to think of it shows reaction. Jockeys ride on reaction, that's not pre-empted, it's brilliant."

The victory was Mullins' first of the week and a breakthrough at this year's meeting too for trainer Gavin Cromwell.

Read more from Cheltenham:

'Freak of a horse' Flooring Porter retains his Stayers' Hurdle crown

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