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- Lee doubles up on Moondance
Gary Carson
Lee doubles up on Moondance
Mr Moondance scores under Billy Lee
© Photo Healy Racing
Mr Moondance swooped from last to first to claim the Kilberry Handicap at Navan, giving Billy Lee a double on the card.
Tim Doyle 's charge was settled in rear leaving the stalls and started to make good ground up passing the two furlong pole.
9/2 favourite Jackie Ellis claimed the front-running Tribal Path going to the furlong pole but couldn't hold the charge of Mr Moondance, who got on top inside the final furlong for a two-and-a-half length success.
The winner, who had finished mid-division on his last outing in Tipperary, had attracted some support from 12/1 this morning into 8/1 on course.
"He did it nicely. I thought he would have won a race before now. He's always had ability. He showed promise as a two-year-old before last year passed him by. He's a big horse and he needed time," said Doyle.
"We put the hood on him in Tipperary and it was a big help today. Billy says he's getting stronger and improving.
"He likes an ease. We'll go for something similar on that ground and then Dundalk. He could go back over hurdles at Christmas time but he'll have a flat race or two before then.
"It's a good day as he's owned by my wife Claire."
(Quotes by Michael Graham)