Stormalong

The most recent victory came at Killarney in May 2025 — almost exactly 12 months ago — and that win on slightly soft ground fits a clear pattern. On wet or softer underfoot conditions, Stormalong has won 2 of 11 races, which works out at 18%, or roughly 1 in every 5 or 6 races. That is a notably better record than its overall numbers suggest, and it tells you something useful: when the rain comes and the ground gets testing, this horse becomes a more serious proposition.

The recent form, however, is modest. Looking at the last six races, Stormalong has not won any of them and has posted a string of fourth-place finishes — consistent enough to suggest the horse is still running its race, but not quite finding that extra gear when it matters. The most recent run was just yesterday, so this is a horse firmly in the middle of its season rather than one being carefully managed from a distance.

Darragh O'Keeffe has ridden Stormalong 14 times, more than any other jockey, winning once together — 1 from 14 is a 7% win rate, which is below the horse's overall average. That's not necessarily a damning verdict on the partnership, but it does suggest the combination hasn't unlocked the best of the horse. Trainer David Kenneth Budds operates out of Reinduff in Co Waterford, a small yard that has sent out 2 winners this season — so when one of their horses does win, it genuinely means something to the team.

Stormalong's career earnings of £74,000 place it solidly in the mid-tier of Irish racing — a dependable, honest horse that has earned its place in the yard without ever threatening the top races. On a soft day at a track it knows well, though, it remains worth watching.