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Velocity goes in search of Graded glory

Velocity BoyVelocity Boy
© Photo Healy Racing

Velocity Boy aims for his first Graded win at Naas on Sunday where the Willie Murphy trained gelding faces nine rivals in the Grade B Woodlands 100 Club Nas Na Riogh Novice Handicap Chase.

Primarily a front-runner, Velocity Boy once attempted the virtually impossible when making the running in a Grade 1 hurdle won by Douvan but comes into today’s race having made all to comfortably win his beginners chase at Punchestown earlier this month.

Regular rider Barry Cash is again in the saddle and Murphy says “he won well at Punchestown the last day so we’re hoping to repeat the dose and he seems very well and is in good form.

“He hasn’t done anything wrong and while I’d prefer a couple of furlongs further, he has won over 2m4f in the past and the ground will suit him. He has a grand racing weight too and I’m hopeful of a good run.”

Opposing Velocity Boy are two other last-time out winners Edwulf and A Great View, both owned by J.P. McManus, while Gigginstown House Stud’s pair, General Principle and Catalaunian Fields, were both second on their most recent respective starts.

General Principle’s trainer Gordon Elliott is in pursuit of a first Trainer’s Championship and also fires another dart, Space Cadet under Davy Russell, at the E50,000 prize.

By Tom Weekes