Racing Post

I’ve got sympathy for Devil

Robbie Wilders thinks there is a gap in the market in the 3m division despite the claims of Flooring Porter and Klassical Dream

REALISTICALLY the top staying hurdlers have all been beating each other over the past couple of years, and identifying a standout in the division is difficult.

Two, however, have distinguished themselves from the pack. Dual Stayers’ Hurdle hero Flooring Porter and twotime Punchestown Grade 1 winner Klassical Dream have each claimed three of the ten top-level staying prizes available in Britain and Ireland over the past two campaigns, with Paisley Park, Thyme Hill, Champ and Sire Du Berlais each successful on one occasion at the highest level in that timeframe.

Klassical Dream is 2-1 up in clashes with Flooring Porter, but there is a sense of unfinished business between the two.

Paul Townend essentially stole Leopardstown’s Christmas Hurdle from the front on Klassical Dream last season as Danny Mullins and the other riders fell asleep in the opening skirmishes. The six-length lead Klassical

Dream quickly accrued became two at the finishing line, and Flooring Porter was considered an unlucky second.

Eight-year-old Klassical Dream and seven-year-old Flooring Porter are entering the prime years of their careers and this rivalry could rumble on.

Champ, Paisley Park and

Sire Du Berlais are rising 11 and perhaps the biggest threats will emerge from the younger brigade. The likes of Thedevilscoachman and Zanihyr could have plenty to offer in this division, while chasing proved problematic for Bob Olinger and he would be a fascinating prospect if reverting to hurdles. Don’t give up on Thyme Hill either. He is due to go novice chasing this season but is a force to be reckoned with over hurdles.

Flooring Porter

Seven-year-old bay gelding

Trainer Gavin Cromwell

Hurdles form 780714162132111PF212 (best Racing Post Rating 169)

Left-handed 162111F212 (169)

Right-handed 780741132P (147)

This time two years ago Flooring Porter was beaten off a mark of 131 in a handicap hurdle at Gowran Park, but now we are dealing with a twotime Stayers’ Hurdle winner.

A runaway 12-length scorer off 136 on his next outing at Navan in December 2020, Flooring Porter completed his rapid rise to the top 25 days later with a six-length dismissal of The Storyteller in the Christmas Hurdle.

Bar pulling up in the 2021 Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown, Flooring Porter has finished in the first two on each of his six starts in Grade 1 company, and that Punchestown effort can be forgiven on a right-handed course after a long season.

Making the running on a left-handed track is crucial to this top-class seven-year-old, who could yet progress again.

The pathway almost selects itself for Flooring Porter. A return in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan can precede Grade 1 tilts at Leopardstown, Cheltenham and Aintree.

Going preference Versatile, but never won on heavy. ✪✪✪✪✪

Klassical Dream

8bg

Trainer Willie Mullins

Hurdles form 111135114512 (168) LH 1115152 (168) RH 13141 (168)

Emerged at the top of the staying tree from nowhere at the end of the 2020-21 season with a stunning nine-length success at the Punchestown festival following a 487-day break.

Klassical Dream landed a right gamble for connections that day and the lengthy absence proved a positive as the form book suggests this former top two-miler needs to be fresh to show his brilliance.

He again ran up to his best after 243 days off when holding Flooring Porter in the Christmas Hurdle last December, before finishing a well-held fourth in the Galmoy Hurdle a month later, losing at odds of 1-3.

The fact Klassical Dream has never run to within 7lb of those Punchestown and Leopardstown successes on RPRs adds credence to the freshness theory, although he still managed to retain his Punchestown crown in April despite not being at his best. Among the most talented hurdlers in training but his tendency to idle when hitting the front will always give his backers a fright.

Going preference No real concerns but untried on heavy since joining Willie Mullins in 2018.

✪✪✪✪✪ Thedevilscoachman

6 br g

Trainer Noel Meade

Hurdles form 151171 (160) LH 511 (160) RH 117 (145) Failed to take to fences when second and third in a couple of strong beginners’ chases last term won by Ferny Hollow and Saint Sam, and connections decided to shelve chasing for the time being.

That proved a masterstroke as Thedevilscoachman relished a first try at 2m5f when reeling in Ashdale Bob late in the picture in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan on his first start in open company.

Thedevilscoachman shaped as if three miles could unlock further improvement but never got his chance to try the trip in the spring.

He was withdrawn at Fairyhouse due to unsuitable ground and at Punchestown owing to a respiratory infection.

Owner JP McManus also has ten-year-olds Champ and Sire Du Berlais in this division, but may wish to strengthen his hand with this unexposed sort, who has a bright future and could be a factor in Grade 1 company on testing going. Going preference Soft/heavy ground is crucial.

✪✪✪✪ ✪ Zanahiyr

5 ch g

Trainer Gordon Elliott

Hurdles form 1114212223F (161)

LH 14223F (161) RH 11212 (154)

Five-year-olds often struggle when thrust into open company after their juvenile campaigns but Zanahiyr managed to elevate his form for Gordon Elliott last term.

The Flat-bred son of Nathaniel was a model of consistency, returning with an impressive eight-length victory inaGrade2atDownRoyal before finishing third in three straight Grade 1s against the older geldings off level weights.

The Champion Hurdle third appeared set to submit a bold bid on his first try at 2m4f in the Aintree Hurdle in April, but crashed out two from home on his final start of the season.

The fall was all the more frustrating as nobody knows whether Zanahiyr would have truly stayed the extra distance. However, three miles is worth attempting in a division with a rich history of high-class twomilers stepping up in trip to great effect.

This youngster, who appears to have been crying out for further, could also easily improve some more for another year behind him. Going preference No obvious preference but heavy an unknown.

✪✪✪✪ ✪ Bob Olinger 7bg

Trainer Henry de Bromhead Hurdles form 2111 (163)

LH 111(163) RH 2 (145)

There cannot be many 40-length winners of a Grade 1 novice chase who have had their reputations dented following such a wide-margin victory, but Bob Olinger lost his air of invincibility when landing the Marsh Chase at Cheltenham.

Galopin Des Champs was set to run out a wide-margin winner when around 12 lengths clear jumping the last and cruising, but was cruelly denied a stunning victory when hitting the deck.

Bob Olinger finished a tired horse at Cheltenham and the race clearly left a mark as he pulled up at Punchestown next time. While a respectable three from four over fences, Bob Olinger never impressed with his jumping and a staying hurdle campaign could be the perfect way for confidence to be restored.

The immense promise of his novice hurdling season is difficult to forget, and it is too soon to give up on this unique talent, although he arrives with a couple of red flags.

Going preference Handles anything.

✪✪✪ ✪✪ Blazing Khal

6bg

Trainer Charles Byrnes

Hurdles form 111

LH 5211 RH 5411

A progressive bumper horse but looked a different animal once switched to hurdles and is unbeaten over the timber.

His first success was at Galway in October before two outstanding victories at Cheltenham. The second of those came when beating subsequent Grade 1 winner Gelino Bello before injury ruled him out for the season.

He was vying for favouritism for the Albert Bartlett at the time of his injury and was undoubtebly one of the best novices of that division last season.

He will no doubt make a good chaser in time, but could be a force to be reckoned with if he does stay hurdling and he is only a six-year-old.

Going preference Handles anything.

Buzz 8 gr g

Trainer Nicky Henderson Hurdles form 114312521

LH 152 RH 14121

Very progressive during the 2020-21 campaign and finished second to Abacadabras in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle. He then had a big day on the Flat when winning the Cesarewitch before continuing that form over hurdles when bolting up in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle at Ascot over 2m3½f.

Buzz was high up in the betting for the Stayers’ Hurdle at that point, before a careerthreatening injury ruled him out for the season.

He clearly has plenty of class and providing he is healthy this season he can prove a big player.

However, it is worth noting he has never run over three miles and is not a guaranteed stayer.

Going preference Handles anything.

✪✪✪ ✪✪ Others to consider

In all probability the majority of last season’s high-class staying novice hurdlers will tackle fences, but there are usually one or two useful types who stay hurdling.

If Cheltenham and Punchestown one-two The Nice Guy and Minella Cocooner remain in this discipline they will be of interest for Willie Mullins, along with the likes of Gelino Bello for Paul Nicholls.

Thyme Hill is another set to go chasing but, although yet to win at the festival, he has form figures of 342.

Ageing stars Champ, Paisley Park and Sire Du Berlais all featured in the top ten hurdlers on RPRs last campaign and merit respect if the fire still burns.

The improving Ashdale Bob deserves a mention after his career-best second to Klassical Dream at Punchestown, while one out of left-field could be Salvador Ziggy, for whom here is some 33-1 available for the Stayers’ Hurdle.

VERDICT

Ireland seem to hold the upper hand and the Brits are searching for another star to usurp the standard set by former champions whose best days may be behind them.

There has been little to split Flooring Porter and Klassical Dream at their peaks on RPRs over the last couple of seasons and, considering their age, it is likely they will take high rank once more.

However, they are not unbeatable and seeking ante-post alternatives who have the scope to progress is the pertinent course of action.

Thedevilscoachman hasa best RPR of only 160 but there is a sense we could be dealing with a potential top-notcher who possesses a real turn of foot.

Noel Meade’s talented sixyear-old has never encountered three miles, but the same was true for Klassical Dream and many other great champions before they took the division by storm in years gone by.

He is a best-priced 33-1 for the Stayers’ and that would appeal if connections decide to ditch a chasing career.

THE BIG JUMP OFF

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2022-10-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-10-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

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