'The hardest decision of my life' - why Jonathan Moore missed Stayers' winner

Jonathan Moore made the excruciating decision no jockey would want to make when he ruled himself out of the ride on Stayers' Hurdle hero Flooring Porter on Thursday morning, but he was able to look on with pride as his hand-picked successor Danny Mullins roared home to victory on the 12-1 shot.

Moore, who had hoped to mark his 27th birthday this week with a first Cheltenham Festival winner, suffered a fall at Naas on Sunday which eventually robbed him of that opportunity.

Feeling he would not do justice to the horse, he suggested to trainer Gavin Cromwell that Danny Mullins replaced him in the saddle, and was instead present at the finishing line to greet Flooring Porter, who followed up a six-length win in the Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle with a magnificent all-the-way triumph over Sire Du Berlais and Paisley Park at Cheltenham on Thursday.

First festival winner for super sub Danny Mullins as Flooring Porter scores

Speaking to Racing TV, Moore said: "It was the hardest decision of my life and I broke into tears when I told Gavin I wasn’t fit to ride. He was a brilliant sport and said he would leave the decision entirely up to me.

"It was such a hard moment because I knew this horse had such a great chance and he’s been so brilliant for my career, giving me my first Grade 1. It’s a bittersweet moment but I’m over the moon for the Flooring Porter Syndicate [owners] and all the team."

"As the week went on I thought I might be able to ride but as soon as I got up on a horse I wasn’t able to keep balanced, it was too painful.

On suggesting Mullins for the ride, Moore said: "Gavin asked me who we should get and I said get Danny.

"Flooring Porter is a quirky sort and after his last two starts I could see he was most effective from the front and Danny is a brilliant man from the front. He’s a good strong lad that would straighten him up.

"People said he got a freebie after Leopardstown but I knew he had an unbelievable engine. He proved that today and maybe I’ll get a day on him again."

In the winning interview, Mullins was keen to pass on the credit, pointing to Moore and saying: "It was a late spare ride for me and the man down there is who you want to be talking to. He lost the ride this morning and gave me every bit of information about the horse. He’s the man that’s done all the work."

Winning trainer Cromwell said to Racing TV: "Jonathan felt he just wouldn't do the horse justice and great thanks to him to make a decision like that. We couldn't be more grateful to him."

More from Cheltenham Festival Thursday:

'No such thing as a certainty' – Ruby Walsh on Envoi Allen's 'unlucky' fall

Punter wins £250,000 after cashing out amazing £5 acca involving Envoi Allen

It's Rachael Blackmore again as awesome Allaho destroys the field in Ryanair

Envoi Allen's doting groom denied the chance to lead up her star at Cheltenham

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