Gavin Cromwell’s William Hill blog: Kerry National looks ideal for Flooring Porter

William Hill ambassador Gavin Cromwell previews his Kerry National hopes, Flooring Porter and Perceval Legallois, as well as two other runners at the Listowel Harvest Festival, before touching on My Mate Mozzie in the Irish Cesarewitch and what to expect from a few more of his stable stars going forwards.

Our Kerry National hopes

The Kerry National (4.20pm) on Wednesday looks ideal for Flooring Porter. He wants to go left-handed and it’s a €200,000 race, so we’ve had it in our heads for some time. He isn’t the biggest, most robust horse in the world, so he’s maybe not one for the depths of the winter in Ireland over fences, but he still jumps well and this will suit him down to the ground.

There’s no guarantee he stays over fences this season, we can mix it up, but I’d say there’s every chance he ends up back in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham come March.

Perceval Legallois has been banging on the door and has been unfortunate so far in his chasing career. He’s been penalised for running great races when finishing second at Punchestown and for falling last season at Leopardstown and is off a career-high mark now so must improve again, but we know what he is capable of, and he can still run a big race.

Others to watch at Listowel

I’m looking forward to Pinot Gris in the Listed Lartigue Hurdle (3.30pm) on Thursday, which is a nice €60,000 pot. He won his maiden hurdle at Bellewstown, is an improving type and is in great form. He’s high on my shortlist for the rest of the week and can give a good account of himself.

Encanto Bruno makes his chasing debut on Thursday (5.10pm). He’s jumped well at home but his hard to know what to expect on their first run over fences. We’re hoping for a good run.

Mozzie moves in on Irish Cesarewitch

My Mate Mozzie will likely be the only runner that we have in the Irish Cesarewitch on Saturday (4.25pm). He’s been a great dual-purpose horse for us, winning on the Flat, over hurdles and over fences. He’s come out of his run at York in the Ebor well, where we were a little disappointed that he didn’t travel as well as we know he can in all honesty. We know that wasn’t his true running and we can expect a better run here.

Lucy to sidestep soft Newmarket

Fiery Lucy is entered in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket this week, but it is unlikely that she’ll line up there due to the likely soft ground. She’ll probably be rerouted for the Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. The mile last time out probably stretched her a bit and seven furlongs looks more her trip. She’s training well and we are looking forward to seeing what the future holds.

Our winter horses

Our winter horses are back in training ahead of the jumps returning and are all going along nicely.

Unfortunately, Brides Hill, who was brilliant winning the Grade 2 Mares Chase at Punchestown, met a little bit of a setback, so she won’t be appearing until after Christmas.