Flooring Porter put up a brilliant performance to make all the running and repeat last year’s win in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday.

Concerns on how Flooring Porter would react to a massive crowd after winning in near silence behind closed doors were allayed, as the Gavin Cromwell-trained seven-year-old put paid to the opposition.

Flooring Porter (4/1) was given a superb ride by Danny Mullins to join the elite band of multiple winners.

He enjoyed an easy lead with Mullins able to control the race throughout and had enough in hand to see off his rivals at the business.

Flooring Porter ran out a cosy winner by two and three-quarter lengths from Thyme Hill with Paisley Park, the 2019 winner, a nose away third.

Winning trainer Gavin Cromwell said: “What can you say. I know everything went perfectly to plan and he behaved himself at the start, he’s really grown up now. We set out to make the running and he was foot perfect everywhere and Danny was fantastic on him.

"We jumped the third last and he filled the horse up and he’s made it look easy really. I was worried as to whether he’d get done for a turn of foot but Danny kept his cool and he knew what he was doing – he knew what he had underneath him.

“A very good horse beat us at Leopardstown (Klassical Dream) but he got off to a flyer that day and we didn’t and ultimately it made the difference. He was only beaten two and a half lengths and it was a good run but he has always been trained towards this race.

“Danny is so good with those front-runners, he seems to have a serious clock in his head and he’s a real horseman. It’s there for everyone to see and Flooring Porter hasn’t been straightforward, he’s just gone with him straight away and he’s just a proper horseman. He seemed to get a soft lead again and we’ll take it.

Mullins, whose success in this race last season was his first at the Festival, said: "These championship races are what it’s all about. The most special thing about it today is the reaction from the owners. They weren’t here last year to enjoy it and it’s very special for them. It’s fantastic to hear the boys enjoy it like that, and it shows it can be done with a syndicate. You don’t have to be in the elite to win at Cheltenham, and that’s the magic of jump racing.

“I’m very fortunate as I ride a lot of good horses for great trainers with fantastic staff. They make my job easy.

"“It was pretty simple really. I was confident the horse would be fine at the start. He’s a professional, and it’s a credit to Gavin for his training through the year, training him throughout with Cheltenham in mind. This is the place everyone wants to win, and it’s magic to get the job done on the day."

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