No French Champion Hurdle for Flooring Porter as Vanillier reverts to hurdles

He has conquered Cheltenham twice, but Flooring Porter will have to wait another year to hit the headlines in Paris after Gavin Cromwell decided against a tilt at next month's French Champion Hurdle for his stable star.

A crack at the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil had been mentioned as a possibility for the €5,000 bargain buy in the aftermath of his second consecutive win in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle last month, but a summer break is instead on the agenda.

Due to his preference for left-handed tracks, Flooring Porter was not entered for the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (5.25) at Punchestown, a race he was pulled up in last year after proving much too keen.

However, stablemate Vanillier is set to revert to hurdles and represent the Cromwell team in Thursday's €275,000 contest.

Vanillier has lacked fluency in his jumping as a novice chaser this term and Cromwell is hoping the 2021 Albert Bartlett winner can rediscover his best form by switching back to hurdles for the first time since finishing fourth to Galopin Des Champs at last year's Punchestown festival.

"We've decided to call it quits for the year with Flooring Porter," said Cromwell. "He's 100 per cent since the Liverpool Hurdle when he ran very well [in second behind Sire Du Berlais]. Doing both Cheltenham and Aintree can be quite a hard ask and he might have run a bit fresh on the day. I possibly had him a bit too fresh as he was a little gassy.

"He's only a seven-year-old and that's why I don't want to bring him to France – I want to get him back for the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham again next year. I'd imagine it will be a similar type of campaign for him next season."

Flooring Porter is a best-priced 7-1 with BoyleSports to become the first horse since Big Buck's to win three consecutive Stayers' Hurdles next March, while Vanillier is available at 33-1 with bet365 and Paddy Power.

Vanillier: bolted up in last year's Albert Bartlett Novices' HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

On Vanillier, Cromwell said: "Unfortunately his jumping wasn't good enough at Cheltenham [when third] in the National Hunt Chase and we're going to give him a go over hurdles.

"Hopefully, he'll be suited by the Champion Stayers' Hurdle. His work has been good; he galloped at Fairyhouse on Tuesday morning."

It could be a big hour or so for Cromwell as Arkle runner-up Gabynako is the general 9-4 second favourite for the Grade 1 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (6.35) over 2m.

Impressive Aintree scorer Gentleman De Mee tops the market at 2-1, with Irish Arkle winner Blue Lord at 11-4.

Cromwell said: "Gabynako went around Fairyhouse the other morning too. All being well, we're happy he'll take his chance at Punchestown next week."

Fellow Meath-based trainer John McConnell is excited to see how high-class novice hurdler Bardenstown Lad reacts to headgear for the first-time in Wednesday's Grade 1 Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (5.20), a race won 12 months ago by Galopin Des Champs.

On his talented Albert Bartlett third, McConnell said: "We're looking forward to Bardenstown Lad next week. We'll put cheekpieces on him for the first time and hopefully that might help.

"I thought it was a cracking run at Cheltenham and he's one to look forward to over a fence in the future."

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