Stormy Master

At 11 years old, Stormy Master is no youngster, but age has not blunted the edge. The overall career record reads three wins and three places from 18 races — winning roughly 1 in every 6, or 17% — which is solid without being flashy. But zoom in on the last six races and the picture sharpens considerably: two wins in that stretch, including a victory at Wexford as recently as July 2025. That is a horse in decent nick, not one fading into the background.

The partnership with jockey Liam Quinlan is worth noting. Together they have won 2 of their 6 races, which works out at 1 in every 3 — a win rate of 33% that comfortably outstrips Stormy Master's career average. That kind of chemistry between horse and rider matters more than it sometimes gets credit for. Trainer Ray Hackett, operating out of Nenagh in Co. Tipperary, has sent out four winners already this season, so the yard is ticking along nicely.

One other factor to file away: Stormy Master has won 2 of its 5 races on wet or muddy ground, a 40% win rate that puts the horse firmly in the category of those who improve when the heavens open. Given that Wexford is also a happy hunting ground, a wet day at that track would represent something close to ideal conditions.

The one question mark is fitness. Stormy Master has not raced for roughly five months, and a long break always introduces some uncertainty — even a horse in good form needs to find its rhythm again on the track. But with a trainer in decent form, a trusted jockey in the saddle, and a course record that borders on the exceptional, this is a horse worth watching closely whenever Wexford comes calling.