Willow off the mark on first outing for Cromwell Whispering Willow made a winning start for Gavin Cromwell when running out a cosy winner of the first division of the 0-100 handicap hurdle at Punchestown. Conor Stone-Walsh produced the 8/1 shot to challenge over the last in the two-miler and she soon hit the front. The daughter of Marcel asserted in the closing stages to post a five-and-a-half length win over Chesterbaylad. Cromwell’s race planner Troy Cullen said afterwards:- “When she came (owner) Daragh (O’Driscoll) said that she was a grand filly and just that things hadn’t gone right for her. “We were hopeful that she would run well. Her work has been fairly good at home. I’m delighted for them. “She travelled really well. Conor said beforehand that he was going to go out and give her a chance to run well and try and come into it. “I thought for a minute that they might have gone, that the front two had gotten a few lengths on him, but she picked up well and hit the line well. “She might win another one of those. Hopefully the handicapper won’t put her up too much and she’ll stay in that grade.”
