Magical Moon (right) challenges Buster Dan Dan at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Magical Moon finally opened his account at the 29th attempt when benefitting from a confident ride by Derek O’Connor to take the Chia Bia (Q.R.) Maiden Hurdle at Tramore. Buster Dan Dan set the pace in this two miles and five furlongs event, and record-breaking point-to-point rider O’Connor waited until the final flight before mounting his challenge.
The Michael Hourigan-trained gelding quickened up nicely when asked for his effort on the run-in to score by two and a half lengths.
There was a gap of six lengths further back to Saltmills Blackie in third.
The 2/1 favourite Tempest Missile was patiently ridden by Patrick Mullins but could find no extra approaching the second last eventually finishing a soundly beaten ninth.
O’Connor said, "There isn't much to him and he probably ran to his mark in what was an ordinary enough maiden hurdle. Possibly there is a future for him if he stays on that mark."
(AM & DM)
