Velocity Boy returns to form under Torrens

Velocity Boy bridged a gap of nearly three years without a win when justifying good support in the Celebrating 150 Years Of The Irish Grand National Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse.

Available at 11/1 this morning and further supported on track from 8/1 into 6/1, the William Murphy-trained veteran saw off fellow front-runner Shrewdoperator before the straight and kept on well under pressure from before the last.

Simon Torrens’ mount had a length and a quarter in hand over top-weight From Eden at the line with the pair finishing 16 lengths clear of Halsafari in third.

Spare Brakes was a bit over a length down when falling at the last.

Torrens said, “Barry Cash used to ride this lad and he gave me a lot of advice about him. I rode him a couple of times over hurdles and he said dropping back to two miles today to make plenty of use of him.

“He's very good to jump, good and brave. We went a nice gallop and once he jumped his way to the front down the back I was able to let him breathe and fill him as best I could, save enough to have one good rattle down the straight. It all worked out.”

(GC & AM)