DUAL Stayers’ Hurdle winner at the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival, Flooring Porter faces a race against time to defend his crown in March.

The popular eight-year-old has suffered a setback which could scuttle his chances of emulating the feat of Inglis Drever in being crowned the champion staying hurdler for a third time.

Flooring Porter’s trainer Gavin Cromwell sent the horse’s fans into a tailspin last week when revealing another successful trip to the Cotswolds was in jeopardy.

Cromwell didn’t reveal the nature of the problem, but it is believed to surround a minor back injury which has brought a halt to the horse’s regular preparatory work on the gallops.

His participation at the big National Hunt Festival could hinge on the result of an X-ray late next week as the Seán Murphy bred gelding is currently restricted to a daily routine on the horse walker and swimming.

Flooring Porter had produced a somewhat underwhelming effort in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown in December – a race he had won in 2021 on his way to a first Stayers’ Hurdle crown – when only finishing fourth behind new big-race favourite Home By The Lee.

The outcome of that race resulted in a five-day ban for jockey Danny Mullins after he was adjudged by the stewards not to have obtained the best possible placing – Flooring Porter being caught on the line for third place by Meet and Greet after Mullins eased his mount in the final 25 yards.

It is now believed that the horse’s back issue, which only came to light on veterinary examination a couple of weeks ago, may have contributed to Flooring Porter not setting the relentless gallop at Leopardstown his fans have become accustomed to.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.