Storm blows in to get off the mark at Gowran Park The Ger Lyons trained Storm Piece recorded a first career win when landing the opening Societies Welcome At Gowran Park Maiden at the County Kilkenny track. Runner-up at Naas on his reappearance, the colt had shaped with plenty of promise on three juvenile starts last season. Boasting an official rating of 86, the Juddmonte-owned runner looked one of the main contenders in a race where those at the front end of the market stood out. Hostility, under the visiting Oisin Murphy, led from an early stage, with Southgreen giving chase. Colin Keane tracked those two with Storm Piece holding the box seat back in third. As both Hostility and Stormgreen gave way over two-furlongs out, Storm Piece came through to lead. Iceford emerged from the chasing group to throw down a challenge but had no more to offer from over a furlong out as Storm Piece went away to win by two-and-three-quarter lengths. Ger Lyons said: “That’s what I’ve been seeing at home. I’m not sure what that form amounts to but he’s so genuine at home. “It was my fault running him on testing ground at Naas. “He’ll get a mile and hopefully we’ll have fun with him. He’s a nice horse.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
