Stormbreaker and Paul Townend © Photo Healy Racing
In what was a definite case of deja vu for Listowel racegoers, Willie Mullins sent out the winner of the opening race for the third day in succession, as Stormbreaker stayed on strongly to land the John J. Galvin Maiden Hurdle on day six of the Harvest Festival.
Successful in similar races on both Wednesday and Thursday, the champion trainer was back in the winners' enclosure as 11/4 chance Stormbreaker headed stablmate Mr Escobar (7/4f) after the last before going on to score by one-and-a-half lengths.
The first two home sat first and second for most of the race, having raced prominently with Irish Panther in the initial stages. With the latter having no more to offer from three out, the contest only concerned the Mullins pair and Gordon Elliott's Boston Beach from the home turn.
As the Elliott contender dropped away approaching two out, Stormbreaker emerged as the only plausible danger to his stablemate. Leading over the final flight, the gelding kept on well to run out a game winner under Paul Townend.
Willie Mullins said: "I thought Paul was on the right horse but having looked at the finish, I think Brian (Hayes, on Mr Escobar) was a little unlucky.
"The third-horse (Boston Beach) came and softened Mr Escobar up turning-for-home and more so, Mr Escobar is a tough ride and having no rail today and only 'island' hurdles was a big disadvantage to him. I think he might have prevailed if there was a rail the whole way up the straight but Brian couldn't really let him down as he was afraid that he might run out.
"Stormbreaker has had niggles, not much, and we're only teaching him how to settle now. Mr Escobar could go back on the flat."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
