Slowmotion winning at Naas© Photo Healy Racing
Barry Geraghty is hoping Slowmotion can go on to bigger and better things after opening her account over fences at Naas on Sunday.
The Joseph O'Brien-trained mare struck gold at Grade Two level over hurdles last March, but only made it as far as the first fence on her chasing debut at Wexford in November
She reverted to the smaller obstacles over the Christmas period and finished a clear second behind the exciting Let's Dance at Leopardstown.
The JP McManus-owned five-year-old was a warm order on her return to fences over the weekend, and comfortably obliged as the 4-6 favourite.
"Slowmotion did it nicely in the end. She was a little deliberate at her fences early on, but that was to be expected," said Geraghty.
"The last time she raced over fences, at Wexford in November, she had a hard fall at the first fence. She had run well over hurdles in the interim, and she warmed to her task nicely on Sunday.
"She was entitled to win this, she had lots in hand on official hurdles ratings and, while I never felt that we were going to bolt up, I was always happy enough with her through the race. She should improve for this experience, too.
"Slowmotion has just turned five and this was effectively her first run over fences. She is a nice scopey mare, and she is versatile, she can jump hurdles or fences and she seems to be versatile in terms of ground conditions.
"Hopefully she has a nice future ahead of her."
Slowmotion was the highlight of an otherwise frustrating weekend for the leading jockey.
The Willie Mullins-trained Bon Papa looked an exciting recruit after winning a Fairyhouse bumper on his debut in early December, but fell three flights from the finish on his hurdling bow at Cork on Saturday.
Geraghty told At The Races: "Bon Papa travelled well through his race in the three-mile maiden hurdle at Cork on Saturday. I was happy with him at every stage of the race, and we were still travelling well at the third-last flight when we came down.
"It was just one of those things, he seemed to jump the obstacle well, he just didn't get his landing gear sorted on the heavy ground. Thankfully he seemed to be OK afterwards.
"He stayed on well to win his bumper on his racecourse debut at Fairyhouse last month, and he remains an exciting prospect."
