Stormy Ireland and Paul Townend © Photo Healy Racing
The Willie Mullins-trained Stormy Ireland quickened away in style before the final flight to run out an impressive winner of the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas.
The habitual front-runner had to settle in second today as Mengli Khan cut out the running in the Grade 3 contest, run over just shy of two miles.
Paul Townend moved closer to the leader going to the fourth last flight and the 3/10 shot was soon on the girth of the front-runner.
Stormy Ireland gained a narrow lead two from home and kicked clear before the last for a six-length success.
Stable-mate Franco De Port stayed on to take the runner-up spot with Mengli Khan eventually finishing third.
The winner was making it three from three this season and Mullins said afterwards:-
“I was particularly pleased she was able to win at that sort of trip and she’s improving all the time. She doesn’t have to make her own running now which is good to see.
“She was rated 148 coming into this race so she is good enough to be entered and run in the Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham after that run.
“Franco De Port left his bad run at Christmas behind and I probably got the tactics wrong then. We made the running at Limerick and I don’t think it suited.”
The winner was cut for the Mares Hurdle with BoyleSports going 8/1 from 10/1, Paddy Power 8/1 from 12/1 and Betfair 9/1 from 12/1.
(Quotes by Alan Magee)
