Can Flooring Porter follow in footsteps of the greats and complete the double?

JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m½f | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

The Liverpool Hurdle was promoted to Grade 1 status in 2010 and just three horses have managed to follow up Stayers' Hurdle success at Cheltenham with a win here in that time.

However, the record of Stayers' Hurdle winners is actually pretty good because only four horses tried to complete the double in that period. The great Big Buck's did it three times in succession from 2010-12, while Solwhit (2013) and Thistlecrack (2016) also followed up.

That means that, since the start of 2010, Stayers' Hurdle winners are 5-6 and Cole Harden was the only one to be beaten. He went close, too, finishing second behind Whisper in 2015.

Flooring Porter became the first horse since Big Buck's to win back-to-back Stayers' Hurdles at Cheltenham last month and deserves to have his name mentioned among the greats.

His legacy will grow if he can follow his Cheltenham victory with success in the Liverpool Hurdle, but this is a relatively quick turnaround for Flooring Porter, who recorded both Stayers' victories after two and a half months off and is back just 23 days later here.

However, his form figures when returning within four weeks of his last run read 0001131 and the first three zeros can probably be ignored as they came before his career took off in 2019.

Only one horse who was beaten in the Stayers' Hurdle has managed to reverse the Cheltenham places in this race and that was the aforementioned Whisper in 2015.

There have been 32 horses beaten in the Stayers' who came on to run here too, so that sole winner is a poor return. It equals a three per cent strike-rate and a £26 loss to £1 stakes.

That gives you an idea of the task facing Thyme Hill, Champ and Koshari. They finished second, fourth and seventh at Cheltenham. So which one is the most likely to turn the tables?

When Whisper reversed Cheltenham places with Cole Harden in 2015 he was recording his second consecutive victory in this race and looked better suited by Aintree's flat terrain than Cheltenham's undulations. It is possible to make a similar argument for Thyme Hill.

Thyme Hill has done most of his racing on stiff, undulating courses, but he often comes up short. His form figures in Grade 1 races at that type of track in Britain read 34222, and he has run only once at the top level on a sharp circuit. That resulted in victory in this last season.

That suggests this track might swing the pendulum in Thyme Hill's favour in this rematch between the best British stayer and the Irish champion, but two and three-quarter lengths separated them at Cheltenham just three weeks ago so Thyme Hill still has quite a bit to find.

Champ and Koshari are also course-and-distance winners. Champ won the Grade 1 novice hurdle here in 2019 and Koshari sprung an 80-1 surprise in a handicap here in November.

Champ famously returned from chasing to land the Long Walk at Ascot in December, and Identity Thief was the last horse to win this following a spell chasing four seasons ago.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Flooring Porter 'in great form' for Aintree debut

Two-time Stayers' Hurdle hero Flooring Porter and his merry band of followers make a surprise detour to Aintree as three of the first four home at Cheltenham renew rivalry.

The joyous scenes as the Gavin Cromwell-trained seven-year-old was roared back into the winner's enclosure by members of the Flooring Porter Syndicate and their pals bedecked in black and white scarves was one of the highlights of last month's festival.

With a short hop across the Irish Sea to Liverpool, they are set to be out en masse again as their hero runs at Aintree for the first time.

The highly strung Flooring Porter, who went on from Cheltenham to Punchestown last year, proved his temperament in front of a big crowd last month with another front-running masterclass under Danny Mullins and appears to have taken the exertions well.

"I'm very happy with him," said Cromwell. "It depends on how much Cheltenham took out of him, but he seems to be in great form. He travelled over on Wednesday and has settled in nicely."

Thyme Hill and Champ bid to reverse Cheltenham form

Thyme Hill and Champ were second and fourth at Cheltenham and have ground to make up on Flooring Porter, but both are Grade 1 winners over the course and distance.

Successful in the race last year, Thyme Hill has been a model of consistency bar a blip in France at the start of the season before finishing second to Champ in the Long Walk and then filling the same spot in last month's Stayers' Hurdle.

Trainer Philip Hobbs said: "He ran great at Cheltenham and seems fine after the race, so we hope he has a decent chance. The ground doesn't matter to him so that will be fine, and he's been in very good form."

Champ proved his liking for the course when winning the 2019 Sefton Novices' Hurdle on his sole visit here and might be able to stay on the bridle for longer on this flatter track.

"He's great and has come out of Cheltenham very well," said trainer Nicky Henderson. "I think he'll enjoy the course. He travelled well at Cheltenham, but I think he'll appreciate a flat track. I'm hopeful and we'll see."

The white caps of Thyme Hill (centre) and Champ chase home Flooring Porter at Cheltenham. The aforementioned pair could be suited more by the flatter track hereCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

What they say

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Sire Du Berlais
He’s in very good form but it looks a tough race. The ground was a bit tacky for him at Cheltenham so hopefully he comes back to form here. He has a each-way chance.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Thomas Darby
He was very disappointing at Haydock, it was trainer error - we shouldn’t have run. He ran very well in the race last year, he’ll be dropped in and hopefully he can pick up some prize-money and could run well at a big price.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Molly Ollys Wishes
She's had a great season, but this does feel like the end of the season for her. She's going grand at home, she looks well and is eating well, but I've got my suspicions she's put a lot into her year. She's in right at the deep end, but she does get 7lb.
Reporting by Andrew Dietz

Saturday's Aintree previews:

2.25 Aintree: can Three Stripe Life take advantage of a golden Grade 1 opportunity?

3.00 Aintree: 'Nothing's given me any concern' – Edwardstone in line to join star-studded list

4.15 Aintree: it's time to find out if Shan Blue is the best-handicapped chaser in Britain

5.15 Aintree: 'She's entitled to be the price she is' – Coleman excited by Snow Leopardess

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