Velocity Boy© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Murphy is hoping rain arrives in time for the improving Velocity Boy to take his chance in Navan’s Troytown Chase.
Murphy admits he “would love” to pitch his nine-year-old into Sunday’s feature handicap, for a prospective rematch with Cork Grand National winner Out Sam.
Velocity Boy, who fell when challenging three out at Cork this month, is currently a 20-1 shot — while Gordon Elliott’s Out Sam vies for favouritism in what is always a fiercely-contested race.
Murphy, who has a longer-term Welsh Grand National at the back of his mind, first wants to see more evidence that Velocity Boy is likely to stay that marathon distance.
The County Carlow trainer said: “He is good since Cork. He was just unlucky — but they are there to be jumped.
“God willing, he will go to Navan — provided we get a drop of rain.
“I don’t think I’d run him on the present ground — (but) if we got yielding ground I’d love to run him, to be honest.
“He is just back in good form now — last year didn’t go hectic for him, but he is back where you’d like to have him now.”
The Cork National was run over three and a half miles, while the Troytown is three — and with Chepstow in his thoughts, Murphy is a little wary that Velocity Boy’s stamina as yet remains untested.
“We’ll have to see how Sunday goes, but I’d love to think he might be a Welsh National horse,” he said.
“We still don’t know whether he properly stays or not. He just fell at the wrong time at Cork, and I don’t know if he really stays that trip. If he did, I’d love to go to the Welsh National.”
He does have an alternative Christmas plan if necessary, to revert back down to just two miles three furlongs.
“If not, he will actually drop down in trip and maybe go to Limerick over Christmas for the Tim Duggan,” Murphy added.
“Sunday will tell which way we are going to go with him.”
Murphy was speaking after a heartening point-to-pointing weekend for the stable, which saw his wife Moira (McElligott) ride a notable winner.
The victory for Bog Lane Baby provided some extra cheer for Sean O’Brien, the Ireland and British Lions flanker currently sidelined with a broken arm but whose father owns the mare.
The pointing win came the day after Ireland’s memorable and historic autumn Test win over New Zealand in Dublin.
Murphy said: “We had a winner at Tinahely on Sunday, Bog Lane Baby — and she was ridden by my wife.
“She will tip away in point-to-points, and I hope we’ll find a winners’ race for her.
“She is actually owned by Sean O’Brien’s father and brother and a good friend of theirs, so it was good weekend for the O’Brien family.”
The winning jockey, meanwhile, is skilled on and off the racecourse.
Murphy said: “(She) rode six or seven winners a few years ago, and then she went on to become a champion boxer.
“She is actually a vet by profession.”
