Britain vs Ireland: can reigning champion Flooring Porter fend off all rivals?

There has been plenty of chatter over the last 12 months surrounding the Irish domination at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.

The vast majority of horse racing fans seem to be expecting a similar display come March, but where do the British-trained runners stand with their Irish counterparts? In the third installment of this series, Ross Millar takes a deep dive into the Stayers’ Hurdle.

Ten-year rivalry: Ireland 4 v UK 6

Best of the Irish: Flooring Porter

Flooring Porter has been defeated on all three starts since making every yard of the running in this contest last year, but he has continued in good form this season and looked the likely winner when falling late in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan in November.

He was far from disgraced when he finished second to Klassical Dream in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, and the pair remain hard to separate on form. However, Flooring Porter will arrive at Cheltenham fresh while Klassical Dream returns after a disappointing run in the Galmoy Hurdle.

There were serious concerns with regards to Flooring Porter’s temperament this time last year, so the fact he appears to be more mentally mature this season can only be to his advantage.

Best of the British: Champ

Thyme Hill, Paisley Park and Champ are very close in the market, but my preference is for Champ as I don’t think we saw him at his best in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January. 

I’m sure that Jonjo would have delayed challenging front-runner Lisnagar Oscar given another chance, as once he bettered him he was left as a bit of a sitting duck for the fast-finishing Paisley Park. I’m hopeful that in the Stayers’ Hurdle he will be ridden with more restraint.

Eyecatching Irish outsider: Darver Star

A brief spell chasing didn’t suit Darver Star, but since he has reverted to hurdling he has shown some smart form. He was a wide-margin winner from Home By The Lee at Punchestown, before running a solid race at Lingfield, where I felt a lack of familiarity with the track caused his jockey, Keith Donoghue, some issues.

Darver Star hasn’t yet tried 3m over hurdles, but he showed that he stayed 2m6f when second to Cilaos Emery over fences in November. Hee has a touch of class and will handle the track, as proven by his third-placed finish in the 2020 Champion Hurdle.

Eyecatching British outsider: Song For Someone

I was originally keen on Thomas Darby as he could be at his best when he is able to pick up the pieces in a high-class race, but his run in the Rendlesham tempers my enthusiasm. He appeared to have a hard race on unsuitably testing ground, which means Olly Murphy has an uphill task to get him to Cheltenham in top form.

Thomas Darby (noseband): disappointing last time in the Rendlesham. Bradley Collyer

Song For Someone hasn’t been at his best so far this season but has performed to a reasonably high standard, most notably when he tried to concede 6lb to Buzz at Ascot over 2m3f. 

He returned to 2m when second in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham and raced lazily when fourth in the Contenders’ Hurdle at Sandown. His enthusiasm for the game may be waning and he looked to be in top gear for much of those contests, but he is yet to race over further than 2m3f over hurdles, which is a bit surprising given he won over 2m on the flat in his native France. 

That formline would suggest that stamina is his forte and, given how well he usually finishes in his races, it must surely be worth chancing him over this trip at a track he has shown a liking for.

Verdict: UK or Ireland?

This is a wide-open contest and the result will depend on the early fractions. Flooring Porter and Klassical Dream could help set a strong pace and might compromise each other's chance. If that scenario pans out, it could set up perfectly for the UK contingent, which is headed by Paisley Park, Thyme Hill and Champ. All three are best suited by attacking late off a strong pace.