Danny Mullins hints at shock change of tactics on Flooring Porter in bid for third Stayers’ crown at Cheltenham
DANNY MULLINS admits ‘plan A might not work’ on Flooring Porter in his bid for a third Stayers’ crown.
The jockey famed for winning from the front is open to a shock change of tactics in the fight for a third Festival title.
Mullins led every step of the way in Flooring Porter’s two Stayers’ Hurdle wins.
He controlled the pace of last year’s race perfectly and was hailed for producing the ‘ride of the year’.
The scenes in the winners’ enclosure afterwards were amazing, with Mullins hoisted onto the shoulders of the owners as chants of ‘there’s only one Danny Mullins’ echoed around the racecourse.
But we could see a different horse in three weeks’ time, with the jockey suggesting his rivals may finally have sussed him out.
A recent setback could also play its part, although Mullins says trainer Gavin Cromwell is ‘happy’ with the horse at home.
Tote ambassador Mullins told Sun Racing: “It was plan A all the way last year and I never had to move from it.
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“The opposition are going to try something more to beat him this year.
“Home By The Lee has changed tactics to better effect.
“Plan A on Flooring Porter might not just work this year but it doesn’t bother me, I can adjust.
“I still think I’m riding the best horse in the race.
“I spoke to Gavin after the Dublin Racing Festival and the horse was back cantering, I’m sure he’s doing more since then.
“That gives him a good chance of being competitive in the race.
100 PER CENT READY
“I have 25 to 30 different plans for Flooring Porter mapped out.
“Everything is 100 per cent ready to go and he’s a very easy horse to ride.
“Look, if Gavin is not happy then he won’t run and we pull the plug on the day.
“But if you haven’t got a plan when you get there then you look like a fool.”
Mullins says you can expect an army of Flooring Porter fans to descend on Cheltenham for the traditional Thursday St Patrick’s Day racing again.
Festival fancies
Mullins on…
Il Etait Temps in the Supreme
I think 5-1 for the Supreme is far. Maybe the ball bounced correctly for him at Leopardstown.
You go back to the run before that and Il Etait Temps gave Facile Vega a fright before the last but then Facile Vega went away.
You’ll see the real Facile Vega at Cheltenham – but Il Etait Temps has a big chance and plenty of experience.
Gentleman De Mee in the Champion Chase
I’d say Mark Walsh will be back riding him, he’s the one who put in the hard work and shaped him from a novice into the horse he is now.
He reaches his peak come the spring.
Not every horse has to go unbeaten and have this heroic thing around him.
Champ Kiely in the Ballymore
It’s a very open race. Champ Kiely was a good winner of a competitive Grade 1 the last day.
He was good in the summer over the minumum trip then didn’t perform to his peak in the Royal Bond but wasn’t beaten far.
He went back to 2m4f and won the Lawlors. I think that form is definitely good enough to compete in the Ballymore.
Only four blokes are actually involved in the syndicate that own the horse.
But the jockey revealed billionaire racing titan JP McManus went round and shook the hands of everyone who was there to see him win last year.
Mullins said it was like ‘100 Davids and one Goliath’ but it showed the class of a racing legend to take the time out to appreciate what they had accomplished.
He hopes he can tee up the party for the lads this year.
But standing in his way will be a host of fancied runners in what has turned into one of the must-see races of the week.
BLOCKBUSTER RACE
Charles Byrnes’ Blazing Khal ran away with the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle after 428 days off and is 11-4 fav.
Hatton’s Grace and Balmoy hero Teahupoo is 7-2 second-fav while Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle winner Home By The Lee is 6-1.
Nicky Henderson could put Mares’ Hurdle chance Marie’s Rock in the race at odds of 13-2, while Flooring Porter is 7-1.
They have all won this season while Flooring Porter has come fourth on both starts.
Not that that fazes Mullins.
He pointed to the fact the eight-year-old fell and finished second before winning last year.
He said: “Do people think of the races he got beat? They just think of Cheltenham.
“Trainers, jockeys, owners… they’re clever enough to manipulate the whole season towards one big day.
“If they have to get beat to sharpen their sword before Cheltenham, then so be it.”
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