Punchestown Festival: Slowmotion set to cut a dash

David Metcalf | April 29, 2016

Slowmotion can foil Limini in Mares Champion Hurdle

Slowmotion has a progressive profile and can take the step up into Grade 1 company in her stride to land the Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Mares Champion Hurdle on the final day of the Punchestown Festival (15.50).

The filly won impressively on her second start over the obstacles at Auteuil in France, and there was lots to like about her debut run at Navan for trainer Aidan O’Brien when a 1/2 length second to Never Again.

Slowmotion travelled strongly throughout at the head of affairs, and was still hard on the bridle two from home.

It looked a case of how far the four-year-old would win by once Mark Walsh pushed the button, but Slowmotion then got very tired on the run-in to be collared close home and beaten 1/2 a length.

Weight allowance a big plus

The front two pulled when clear of the third home, and it was an effort which suggested Slowmotion needed keeping firmly onside.

That view was confirmed when the daughter of Soldier Of Fortune easily landed a Grade 2 contest at Fairyhouse by seven lengths when last seen in action.

This demands more, but Slowmotion remains totally unexposed and open to any amount of improvement and receives a handy 10lb age allowance from the red-hot favourite Limini.