Local group hoping to toast Cheltenham success

The pubs remain shut under the Covid-19 shroud that has enveloped the entire world since last year. But if Flooring Porter wins in Cheltenham today (Thursday), no doubt the local quartet who own the horse will toast the success with a few drinks from the comfort of their homes.

Flooring Porter runs in the Stayers’ Hurdle at 3.05pm and local connections in south Roscommon are hopeful of success in the Grade 1 race. The horse is owned by a syndicate consisting of Ned Hogarty, father and son duo Tommy and Alan Sweeney, along with Kerril Creaven (Alan’s uncle).

Alan and Kerril previously ran The Countryman pub in Creagh and with the Hogarty family running a flooring and DIY business, Ned quipped that “the name was conceived” by combining flooring with a few pints of porter. Another link to the publican trade is that the Sweeney family previously ran The Birchgrove Bar on the Athlone Road near Ballinasloe.

“It’s surreal to be honest,” Ned told the Westmeath Independent when asked about having a horse competing in the Cheltenham festival.

“Cheltenham is the Olympics of horse racing and we’re blessed to have a horse running there and in with a good chance of winning.”

Clearly in ebullient form ahead of Thursday’s race, Ned continued with a laugh: “I’m delighted for everybody involved, particularly myself!”

Hogarty's flooring business is located very close to Padraig Pearses GAA grounds in Woodmount. All of the quartet have been associated with Pearses in some capacity, with Alan’s brother Shane managing the Pearses hurlers to win the Roscommon senior title last year.

“It’s very challenging times at the moment for everybody so this is bringing a great bit of excitement,” said Ned.

“People who come into the shop are asking how the horse is doing and when is he running. With the help of God, he’ll do the business.”

Winning the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle in Leopardstown last December was a very special moment for Ned and co. Ned points out that Flooring Porter had seven lengths to spare over Sire Du Berlais (rated as one of the leading contenders for the Stayers’ Hurdle) when they did battle at Leopardstown.

“Even if he never does another thing, he’s a superstar to us. The journey we’ve been on with the horse is unreal,” he said.

The horse is trained by Gavin Cromwell and the jockey will be Jonathan Moore, with Ned pointing out that Flooring Porter gave Moore his first Grade 1 success in that aforementioned Leopardstown meeting.

Ned has been enjoying the spotlight in the lead-up to Cheltenham and he’s due to take part in a Zoom call interview with ITV Racing this morning (Thursday).

“We’re nearly as famous as the Paisley Park owner Mr Gemmell,” said Ned, referring to Andrew Gemmell, the blind racehorse owner who is aiming for fairytale success in the same Cheltenham race.

Whatever the outcome on Thursday, Ned vows that “when things normalise, we’ll have a do to celebrate”.

“When you get involved in buying a horse, you’re thinking that you’d be happy to win a handicap race in Roscommon, Kilbeggan or Ballinrobe, so to be getting ready for a race in Cheltenham is fantastic,” he said.

As featured in last week’s Westmeath Independent, Curraghboy native Cathal McHugh is part of a syndicate which owns Skyace, with this horse running in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle also on Thursday (4.15pm).

“Cathal McHugh’s horse is in with a shout too and I wish him the best of luck,” added Ned.

See HERE for interview with Cathal McHugh on Skyace's prospects in Cheltenham.