WILLIE Mullins extended his absolute stranglehold on the Grade 3 Advent Insurance Irish EBF Mares Hurdle as Stormy Ireland turned up in all her glory with a pillar to post tour de force.

Paul Townend made his intentions clear from the off on the 9/10 favourite as he set a brisk gallop that ensured nothing else could get meaningfully involved.

The Sullivan Bloodstock-owned mare was untidy at the third last but otherwise this was a victory without incident as Stormy Ireland finished this two and a half miles affair with five and a half lengths to spare over stablemate Elfile.

“She’s not the biggest but she has a big heart and Paul was very positive on her. She likes to jump and gallop and this sort of ground makes it easier for her,” reported the winning trainer who was winning the race for the fourth year in succession.

“She will get an entry in the mares’ hurdle at Cheltenham (in which she was second last year) but she’d probably have to improve to win it.”

Bloodaxe scalps them

A festive period that belonged to Gigginstown ended on an appropriate note as Eric Bloodaxe (8/11) led home a one-two for the champion owner in the O’Driscoll O’Neill Insurance Brokers INH Flat Race.

The son of Saint Des Saints made a big impression when scoring on his debut and further burnished his reputation when quickening well off a steady pace for Tom Hamilton to defeat the Navan bumper winner Wide Receiver by two and a half lengths.

Declan Lavery was hit with a six-day whip ban for his efforts on the third placed Hollow Sound.

“He’s a gorgeous horse who has always stood out and always worked well. You’d be thinking in terms of the long term with this horse,” reported Joseph O’Brien who didn’t rule out the Dublin Racing Festival or Cheltenham for his charge but he did stress that a patient approach would be taken with the five-year-old.

Gavin Cromwell’s best season to date yielded a new high as Peaches And Cream (12/1) moved the trainer on to the 50 winner mark for the campaign in the two and a half miles Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle.

Conor McNamara’s mount looked well held early in the straight but found a new lease of life when he was switched to the outer approaching the last flight. He stormed to the front in the last 100 yards for a half length triumph over Millen To One. The winner is owned by the trainer’s wife, Kiva.

COBBLER’S Way (9/2) put the seal on a memorable Christmas for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore in the Pigsback.com Maiden Hurdle.

The strapping son of Oscar produced a bold display from the front in this two and a half miles affair but, nearing the last, The Big Getaway (11/10 favourite) eased fractionally ahead and looked as though he might have the upper hand.

However, disaster struck for the favourite when he landed awkwardly after the last and lost all momentum which handed the initiative back to Cobbler’s Way.

The Gigginstown-owned gelding duly took full advantage to defeat the staying on Sempo by a length and three quarters.

“He’s always been a horse we thought a lot of and he’s a nice staying type,” reported the trainer. The two and three quarter miles novice hurdle back at the Dublin Racing Festival or the Grade 3 novice at Clonmel just after that would look likely options.”

Oliver McKiernan and Barry Browne made it two winners in as many days as Best Behavior notched up his first victory in almost two years in the 0-123 rated Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase. A pleasing fifth to Bapaume at Naas two weeks previously saw this Beneficial gelding sent off a very well supported 8/1 chance (he was as big as 25/1 in the morning) and, after leading the field into the straight, he stuck to his task well to defeat the 33/1 shot Fiveaftermidnight by two lengths.

“I was hoping he could run well but I felt that the ground could be gone too quick for him. He’s still quite green but one thing he doesn’t have to learn about is jumping which is great,” reported McKiernan whose charge carries the colours of the Keeping The Faith Syndicate.