Flooring Porter thrashes rivals to announce strong claim for 2025 Grand National

Horse-of-a-lifetime Flooring Porter has announced his candidacy for the £1m 2025 Grand National, seven months before the Aintree spectacular.

He was introduced into the betting after he produced a breathtaking performance in the Guinness Kerry National on Wednesday.

Trained by Gavin Cromwell, the nine-year-old has already delivered handsomely for his four members of the Flooring Porter syndicate who shelled out just £4,300 to buy him in 2018.

Since then he has taken his career earnings past £670,000, twice winning the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

He had raced only four times over fences but added another £100,000 to his earnings when leading virtually from start to finish under Keith Donoghue in the 3m handicap at Listowel.

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By the third fence the 6-1 chance was already in a clear lead and had extended the advantage even further with just five fences left.

Approaching the last two fences, commentator Jerry Hannon remarked: “There’s nothing coming from behind.”

The Willie Mullins-trained Horantzau d’Airy managed to run on late to narrow the margin of victory to four and a quarter lengths.

But with Donoghue able to coast in from the final fence, Hannon added: “Flooring Porter is all class in the Guinness Kerry National and gallops them into the ground.”

At this early stage William Hill added Flooring Porter to the Grand National betting at 33-1 in a market headed by last year’s winner I Am Maximus on 12-1.

Cromwell saddled Vanillier to finish second in the 2023 Grand National and now has his eye on next year’s race for Flooring Porter.

“He got into a rhythm and just kept building the distance from the field,” Cromwell told RacingTV. “I think Keith was just a passenger really.

“I didn’t think he’d stop, it was just the jumping. He is very hard to peg back when he gets into that rhythm.”

He added: “The Grand National is definitely worth considering. I will have a chat with the lads about it. It’s something I certainly wouldn’t rule out.

“He’ll go on nicer ground, we know he stays really well and it’s left-handed.”