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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Storm Heart certainly one for the notebook

Sun 31st Dec 2023, 14:22

Storm Heart full of running on Irish debutStorm Heart full of running on Irish debut
© Photo Healy Racing

Storm Heart showed a devastating turn of foot on the heavy ground in Punchestown to run away with the three-year-old maiden hurdle.

The Storm The Stars gelding was very popular in morning trading as his price contracted from even-money to 4/7 and this continued at the track as he went off 2/5 favourite.

Willie Mullins' French import was last seen winning a Flat maiden over 1m4f in his native country in March.

He didn't have the clearest route in this race as he was shuffled back and found traffic problems, however, a good jump two out saw him progress in third approaching the home bend.

Once Paul Townend asked him to pick off the leaders, the response was immediate as he readily asserted and moved clear before the last. He soared over it to win by a dominant 22 lengths from Jeaniemacaroney (9/1). Eagles Reign was another four and a-half lengths back in third at 12/1.

Mullins said: “It was a very good introduction, I didn’t expect that. I was hoping he was alright, but he’s more than alright looking at that performance.

“Paul thought he was very brave too as he got blinded at one or two hurdles. He lost his confidence for one or two, but got it back. He took them on and he loves jumping.

“I would have said coming here there was huge improvement in him, and I hope there is.

“He’s probably good enough to go wherever we wanted.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.