Storm Heart makes winning return at Limerick Gigginstown Stud’s Grade 1-placed Storm Heart (7/4) gave Willie Mullins a fifth Christmas winner today, landing Limerick’s Goggin Buckley Hurdle under the champion trainer’s nephew Danny Mullins. Runner-up at the top level at the Dublin Racing Festival in February 2024, the five-year-old son of Storm The Stars was returning following a 328-day layoff in today’s four runner race. While initially racing prominently, jockey Mullins allowed Storm Heart to drop behind Riskaway and Parnell Street at halfway, before eventually quickening by those principal rivals to score by six lengths. Jockey Mullins reported “I had ridden him to finish fourth in a Grade 1 at Punchestown in May when he ran quite well although we were coming here off a layoff against others who had race-fitness on their sides. It was a good performance and class kicked in late on. “There was a bit of tactics at the start and nobody wanted to go, so I decided to follow the pace-setter and a few good jumps and a bit of speed got him there. “Today he has run a good few pounds below what his peak is so it will be interesting to see where the team decide to go next.”
