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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Slevin finding the key to Lunar Display

Sun 19th Dec 2021, 14:08

Lunar Display closes on The Getaway Star after the lastLunar Display closes on The Getaway Star after the last
© Photo Healy Racing

Lunar Display showed her class when recovering from a bad mistake at the second last to power home in the Listed Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle over an extended two miles at Thurles.

She travelled into contention behind Faith Du Val and Braganza but didn't jump that hurdle well and appeared to stumble as she gave away a few lengths to the leaders.

To her credit, she was very swiftly back into her stride under JJ Slevin and readily zoomed right up on The Getaway Star who had taken over from Braganza at the final flight.

Slevin urged her home in the closing stages as the 5/2 chance beat The Getaway Star (5/1) by a snug length and a quarter. Molly's Glory kept on for third some six and a half lengths further back at 12/1.

Braganza was backed down to 13/8 favourite on the back of her maiden hurdle success at this track last month, but again there was room for improvement in her jumping as she dropped out of the places to fourth.

Slevin said: "The fast run two miles played to her advantage and while she was only barely on the bridle, they went quick enough in front of her and have died up front.

"It took me a while to learn how to ride her and I think I have been putting her in motion a bit soon, especially the last day when I put her in a dog-fight and she was out-battled.

"We are learning about her all the time, she is a grand mare and she won easy today. She is very consistent and Joseph does a very good job with those types of mares."

Joseph O'Brien 's Lunar Display held a mark of 127 after a pair of victories over flights in Tipperary and Wexford, and placed runs in Listed and Grade 3 races.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.