Stormalong (nearest) just leads Tingarran Express over the last© Photo Healy Racing
A winner on debut at Cork in May of 2022, Stormalong registered her first success since, as she readily accounted for her 10 rivals in the Assembly Tech Mares Handicap Hurdle.
An eye-catching third on her most recent start at Ballinrobe, the Ken Budds-trained six-year-old was sent off an easy-to-back 11/1 chance (from 7s early).
Settled behind the leaders, she lost her place from four out but worked her way back into contention on the approach to the penultimate obstacle.
Soon brought to the outer to challenge, she led narrowly over the last and kept on strongly from there, coming home four-and-a-quarter lengths to the good.
The Denise O’Shea-trained Tingarran Express had to settle for second yet again, while Straight Home was another two-and-a-half lengths away in third.
On what was her debut for Willie Mullins, the latter was sent off the warm order favourite at 5/6, having opened at 3/1 in early shows for this two-mile contest.
“She was very unlucky the last day, she just got shuffled back at the wrong time and then came with a good run. She was way overpriced today,” Budds remarked.
“I was a little bit worried that they might have watered it too much for her, but we kept her out a bit.
“She travelled well and I knew going down to the second last that she wouldn’t be beaten.
“She is a nice mare and is actually improving. Her last couple of runs have been very good. She was a bit off form before that and I don’t know why but she is flying now.
“She is ground dependent really and I know she has a little bit of form on soft ground but she’d be a totally different mare on ground even quicker than today. It was nearly good to firm the day she won the bumper.
"I might give her a run in a maiden on the Flat over two-miles as she’s not slow. Once you get the right ground, she's not slow.
"Her half-brother (The Last Samuri) was second in the Grand National but she has plenty of boot. Hopefully she'll keep progressing and she'll run over fences next year."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident coming down the hill approaching the second last hurdle involving Pidoyne ridden by D. Moloney, unplaced, Straight Home, ridden by P. Townend, placed third, and Good Bye Milan ridden by P.T. Enright, unplaced, where it appeared Pidoyne ran short of room. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. D. Molony stated that he just got a bit tight for room. P. Townend stated that the horse in front of him was retreating which caused things to get tight momentarily as he received a bump. He further added that there was enough room for numerous horses in the gap. P.T. Enright stated that he received slight contact to the back of his mount and kept a straight line. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards found P. Townend was in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly, and having considered his record in this regard (second offence) the Raceday Stewards suspended him for four racedays.
