25/1 shot Stormey sprang another shock on the card at Sligo when taking the older maiden hurdle for Stephen Mahon.

The six-year-old was held up by Donagh Meyler in the early stages before being produced to challenge at the final flight.

He soon hit the lead on the run-in and kept on well in the closing stages to record a two-and-three-quarter length success.

“That's a bit of a shock. I can't feel anything from the legs down — it must be what having a epidural is like!” said Mahon.

“I wasn't going to run him and took Usa out. He's a lovely top of the ground horse, has loads of gears and I didn't think he'd finish on that ground.

“I said to Donagh to drop him out the back and went down to the start to make sure he started. I told him to feel his way into it and just run as well as he could.

“I was happy two out that he was running a nice race but it was a bit of a shock from the last.

“He's a grand horse and we always thought a lot of him. He just needed a couple of runs and a bit of a break.

“He hadn't run for 292 days so we thought the day out would do him good.”