Smooth sailing for Paul Townend as Stormy Ireland sprints to Limestone Lad win

Benie Des Dieux set the tone in the Galmoy Hurdle on Thursday but another Willie Mullins-trained mare picked up where she left off as Stormy Ireland sprinted clear to win the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas.

Luke Dempsey set out with intent aboard the enigmatic Mengli Khan but Paul Townend was always comfortable aboard the 3-10 favourite and she picked up strongly in the home straight to win by six lengths.

Stablemate and 7-1 shot Franco De Port got the better of Mengli Khan for second, handing Mullins a one-two.

Stormy Ireland jumps the final hurdle clear of Mengli Khan and Franco De PortCredit: Alain Barr

The mare handed him his fourth victory in the race following the successes of Mikael D’Haguenet (2012), Sempre Medici (2016) and Sandsend (2018).

Second in the Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last year, Betfair trimmed the six-year-old to 9-1 (from 12) to go one better.

Stormy Ireland has now won six of her 18 starts but has yet to score at Grade 1 level, only managing second to stablemate Benie Des Dieux in the Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown last season.

Australian raider Big Blue settled in fourth for much of the journey but never featured in the finish under Rachael Blackmore.

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