Easy win for Slowmotion in Fairyhouse opener

Slowmotion made up for her recent defeat as she ran out an easy winner of the opener at Fairyhouse, the Grade 2 REA Grimes Property Consultants Juvenile Hurdle.

Sent off the evens favourite on her Irish debut at Limerick, the daughter of Solider Of Fortune was caught close home by Never Again.

Expected to come on plenty for that effort she went off the 2/1 favourite today in the colours of JP McManus.

Having raced mainly in third she improved to take closer order on the approach to the straight, gaining a marginal lead before two out.

She cruised a few lengths clear after that flight and kept up the gallop on the run-in, going on to score by seven lengths under Barry Geraghty.

The well-backed Rashaan (5's last night and from 3's to 9/4 on-course) finished second under Mikey Fogarty for Colin Kidd, while Newberry New (9/2) was a further eight lengths back in third under Robbie Power for Jessica Harrington.

Joseph O'Brien said afterwards: "She was probably a little bit fresh in Limerick and we might have left her a little short.

"She looked like she was going to win everywhere but probably blew up a little at the back of the last. She improved a lot from that.

"She was very good today. She settled brilliantly and jumped very well. She handles an ease in the ground and should stay well. She's a very exciting filly.

"We'll see how she comes out of this and I'll talk to JP and Frank. She probably doesn't have to run again but if she does Punchestown would be the logical target."

O'Brien went on to say: "The course (to get his trainers licence) is in May. It's three days over three weeks and hopefully I'll have the licence by the end of May."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson