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

William Hill ambassador Gavin Cromwell previews his Friday runners at Killarney and Down Royal, with his stable star Flooring Porter an eye-catching entrant over fences.

Killarney, Friday

We’re delighted to get Flooring Porter (3.40pm) back on track for his first start since Aintree in April. He’s in good form and we’re happy with him, especially seeing as he really wasn’t himself on his final run last season in Liverpool. Obviously, the shorter trip is going to be on the sharp side for him, but the long-term aim is the Kerry National at Listowel, so it’s important for him to get some practice going left-handed. Ideally, there’d be a more suitable race trip-wise for him in the lead up to Listowel, but I hope the race will do its job and give us a good platform for September.

In the three-year-old maiden hurdle (1.55pm), we run two horses in the shape of Judicial Reward and Robbies Rock. Judicial Reward has had plenty of runs on the Flat and I think will be better suited to going jumping. He’s schooled well over hurdles, and we’re hopeful of a nice run. Robbies Rock, on the other hand, is slightly less experienced generally, but put in a nice run in a Flat handicap last time out. Likewise, I’m hopeful of a good run for this fella.

Je T’Ai Porte (4.15pm) has been a lovely mare over the summer, winning twice for us and arrives here in good form. It’s fair to say that she can be quite hard on herself, as she tries so hard, but she seems to have freshened up well from her last start. I think she might still have a little bit to find with some of her rivals, but I believe she can still show a nice account of herself.

Down Royal, Friday

Then it’s time to head up to Down Royal where we send two fillies on Friday evening. First up is Vera Verto (8pm), for whom things didn’t really go to plan on her last run over at Pontefract. It was very fast ground that day, she was drawn out wide, and I’d say the whole thing just didn’t go to plan for her. The handicapper might have a decent grip on her at the moment, but I still think she can run better than she did last time out.

Our final Friday runner is Empress Alma (8.30pm) who dug really deep to win on her previous start. I’m hoping that she can build on that again, as I think she looks like a filly going in the right direction now. She’s come out of Naas well and I think she should be in with a good chance of getting into the winners’ circle once more.