China's Storm showed good battling qualities to win the Crowne Plaza Dundalk Race & Stay Maiden at Dundalk this evening, scoring for trainer Tony Mullins and 7lbs claiming jockey Willie Byrne.

The son of Epaulette had finished second on his previous start at the venue in January and while headed by eventual runner-up Juliet Rose inside the final furlong, rallied to regain a narrow lead near the line and score a head win.

Afterwards Mullins, whose Party Playboy finished a close second in the £350,000 English Cesarewitch last October, later stated “he’s (China's Storm) a progressive horse and Willie said he idled on his own in front and that he’d ride him with company in future. When one came either side of him he got back going again.

“I’m hoping he’s a good horse and there might be a good prize in him this year at a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half.

“We’ll give him a couple of weeks off and see can he do the same on turf.”

Quotes from Alan Magee