Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
STORMING RETURN TO HER BEST
BACK in the care of Willie Mullins after a fruitless spell with Paul Nicholls, Stormy Ireland landed the Underwriting
Exchange Hurdle – the first leg of a Grade 2 double on yesterday’s supporting card in Fairyhouse for the trainer.
Enterprisingly ridden by Danny Mullins, deputising for the injured Paul Townend, the 7/2 shot made all and stayed on in the closing stages, despite tiring, to hold favourite
French
Dynamite by a length and a quarter.
Formerly owned by Sullivan Bloodstock, Stormy Ireland was bought for £75,000 by the FB Racing Club to rejoin Mullins, who explained: “She was bought to breed from and her new owners asked me if I’d take her back. Danny is great from the front and was super on her.
“She might go to Punchestown now (for the Grade 1 Annie Power Mares Hurdle) and, after this, might be kept in training next season – she’ll probably go over fences.”
And Danny added: “She was a little bit temperamental at home. And Willie decided to take all the headgear off her.
That’s Willie Mullins – a genius move.”
Paul Townend missed out again when Easy Game, with Brian Hayes (inset) in the saddle, took the Grade 2 Devenish Chase by three-quarters of a length from Castlegrace Paddy, thanks to a superior jump at the final fence.
Earlier, Noel Meade’s Jeff Kidder, 80/1 winner of the Boodles at Cheltenham, turned over 4/7 shot Teahupoo in the Grade 2 Rathbarry &
Glenview Studs Juvenile Hurdle, edging clear on the run-in to score by three lengths.
“He’s improving and loves that fast ground,” said Meade. “Believe it or not, he’s a kilo heavier today than he was in Cheltenham. All being well, he’ll go to Punchestown now (for the Grade 1 Ballymore Champion 4-Y-0 Hurdle). And he’s well-handicapped on the flat for a summer campaign.”