Vellner shows benefit of experience to open account

Vellner got off the mark at the third attempt in the William Hill Irish EBF Maiden over a mile and a quarter at the Curragh.

The 11/4 second favourite made smooth headway to lead over two furlongs before Billy Lee got to work over a furlong out.

The Paddy Twomey-trained son of Galileo Gold kept on well inside the final furlong to score by a-length-and-a-quarter from World Famous who put in some good work at the business end. Waterville was touted as a Derby prospect before making his debut this spring but again failed to live up to expectations and the 10/11 favourite found no extra from over a furlong out finishing another four-and-three-quarter lengths away in third.

Twomey said, “He's been green and his behaviour was terrible the first day. He improved a little bit the second day and I thought coming here today it would take a good one to beat him.

“My friend Adrian Costello bought him as a foal and the day he bought him I loved him.

“I was in Listowel the day he was selling him in England as a yearling. I rang him and said 'how are you getting on'. He said 'so so', then I bought him and then Colin (Lynskey) came and bought him off me.

“He's a lovely horse and I'd say that's only the start. We'll see what happens now.”

(GC & AM)