Stormalong justifies favouritism for trainer Ken Budds as John Shinnick steers home a double at Clonmel
![Ken Budds: successful with the well-backed Anyway at Downpatrick](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2F320bbf133044-ken-budds.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Stormalong justified 11-4 favouritism to land the 2m4f mares' handicap hurdle, the third success of her career for trainer Ken Budds and the first part of a double for 5lb claimer John Shinnick.
The complexion of the race took a big swing when 5-1 shot Evening's Empire ran out before the seventh obstacle having built up a huge lead.
After landing a 2m½f handicap at Tramore in August, Stormalong ran respectably to finish third on the Flat at Gowran and over hurdles at Listowel. However, the step up in trip worked well here as she scooted clear approaching the last before producing a huge leap and extending her advantage to six lengths over Wudya in second.
Budds said: "They didn't go quick enough for her at Listowel and she got caught back and wide. She had topweight today but she stays and is improving."
Shinnick steered home another winner in the penultimate 3m½f handicap hurdle when 11-1 shot Stellar Symphony landed her second success for trainer Terence O'Brien, defeating Crossing The Bar by a length and three-quarters.
Useful newcomer
Mystical Goddess landed the opening 2m1f maiden hurdle in good style for Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O'Keeffe, getting the better of 15-8 favourite Marcus Furius by four and three-quarter lengths.
The 10-3 shot was making her racecourse debut having landed a point at the second attempt in February, and is a sister to smart chaser Giovinco.
Read these next:
![](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2F8638a114d22e-onthenose-1920x1080.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.
Published on inReports
Last updated
- Bellewstown: 'He's a gorgeous horse' - Ger Lyons unearths another smart prospect
- Warwick: 'Some have moaned about it but it's a good target' - new Cheltenham Festival race on Twiston-Davies' radar
- Salisbury: 'We're pinching ourselves' - owners Pompey Ventures continue brilliant season with hat-trick hero Bob Mali
- Southwell: 53 per cent strike-rate in the last fortnight: James Bowen continues red-hot form
- Bellewstown: teenage sensation Darragh O'Sullivan makes it three winners in nine days with victory on 18-1 shot Mile End
- Next Manchester United manager odds + get £30 in free bets with bet365's betting offer
- Porto vs Manchester United betting offer: get a huge £140 in Europa League free bets from Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Bet
- Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich Champions League betting offer: bet £10 and get £50 in free bets
- US election latest odds and betting offer: get £60 in free bets with William Hill
- Bellewstown: 'He's a gorgeous horse' - Ger Lyons unearths another smart prospect
- Warwick: 'Some have moaned about it but it's a good target' - new Cheltenham Festival race on Twiston-Davies' radar
- Salisbury: 'We're pinching ourselves' - owners Pompey Ventures continue brilliant season with hat-trick hero Bob Mali
- Southwell: 53 per cent strike-rate in the last fortnight: James Bowen continues red-hot form
- Bellewstown: teenage sensation Darragh O'Sullivan makes it three winners in nine days with victory on 18-1 shot Mile End
- Next Manchester United manager odds + get £30 in free bets with bet365's betting offer
- Porto vs Manchester United betting offer: get a huge £140 in Europa League free bets from Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Bet
- Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich Champions League betting offer: bet £10 and get £50 in free bets
- US election latest odds and betting offer: get £60 in free bets with William Hill