Trainer mounting dual challenge on Listowel highlight.
Trainer Gavin Cromwell is set to make a powerful impact at Wednesday's Guinness Kerry National at Listowel, as he sends two standout contenders—Flooring Porter and Perceval Legallois—into battle for the prestigious €200,000 feature. Both horses carry high expectations into the event, with Cromwell confident that their preparations and conditions will allow them to showcase their best performances.
Flooring Porter Eyes Redemption After Challenging Return
Flooring Porter, a fan favorite with a storied career over hurdles, will look to make amends after a less-than-ideal return to chasing at Killarney in July. Last year, the gelding made a successful start over fences at Cheltenham, impressing with a sharp performance. However, he returned to hurdles shortly afterward, narrowly missing out on a third consecutive win in the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Finishing second in that race was no small feat, but it signaled that Flooring Porter had unfinished business in his chase career.
Despite being well-beaten on his return to chasing at Killarney, Cromwell remains optimistic about his chances on Wednesday, particularly with the ground and racecourse configuration working in his favor.
"Flooring Porter seems in great form. We're happy with him and the ground should be ideal," Cromwell said. "Going left-handed is a big plus for him. We've trained him for this race for a long while, so we're looking forward to it and hopefully he's going to run well."
The left-handed course at Listowel suits Flooring Porter's style, allowing him to get into his rhythm, and Cromwell has ensured that this race has been his target for quite some time. With the groundwork laid and a favorable setup, the stage could be set for Flooring Porter to remind everyone why he’s a standout performer.
Perceval Legallois: A Strong Contender Ready for Redemption
Not to be overshadowed by his stablemate, Perceval Legallois enters the Kerry National as a major contender in his own right. After a less-than-ideal run at the Galway Plate in August, where he finished eighth as the 7-2 favorite, Cromwell believes Perceval Legallois was unfortunate not to have finished better. A series of setbacks during the race, including missing the start and losing valuable ground by running wide, denied him the chance to show his true form.
"Perceval Legallois didn't get the clearest of passages in the Galway Plate after missing the start and going a bit wide. He missed a couple of fences at the wrong time but ran well on the whole," Cromwell explained.
With those missteps now behind him, the trainer is confident that Perceval Legallois will be a major threat if he gets a clear run. The gelding has proven himself capable in past performances, and a clean race could be all he needs to put himself back in the winner's circle. Cromwell added that the more rain that falls, the better for Perceval Legallois, though he feels the ground conditions will be satisfactory regardless.
A Trainer’s Vision Meets the Test of Turf
What makes Gavin Cromwell’s presence in the Kerry National particularly compelling is the careful planning and tactical brilliance that has gone into preparing both horses. Flooring Porter’s move back to chasing was methodically timed, with this race clearly marked as a target, while Perceval Legallois has been primed for a bounce-back performance after his Galway Plate misfortunes.
Cromwell’s insight into how both horses are positioned to excel at Listowel gives a sense of anticipation that Wednesday’s race could be a defining moment for both of them. Flooring Porter’s experience over hurdles and the patience Cromwell has shown in navigating his switch back to fences suggest that the horse could be a major player if he finds his rhythm. Similarly, Perceval Legallois has the potential to turn heads if he avoids the traffic that hampered him at Galway.
The Guinness Kerry National, a race rich in history and laden with expectation, will be a high-stakes proving ground for both Cromwell’s horses, as they go head-to-head with a competitive field. The storylines heading into the race offer all the elements of a high-octane spectacle: redemption, preparation, and the potential for greatness on one of the biggest days in the Irish racing calendar.
