Verhoyen blows away his rivals

Verhoyen left his rivals for dead with a fine front-running performance in the William Hill Handicap over seven furlongs at the Curragh.

Billy Lee bounced out in front on the Michael Grassick-trained gelding and he soon had a few lengths advantage on his field.

The seven-year-old went further clear when asked for an effort over a furlong out and galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a six-and-a-half length win over Heavenly Power

It was a fifth career win, and his fourth at the course, for the 17/2 shot, who holds an engagement back here on Sunday.

“He he wins, he wins well! I'm sure the handicapper will crucify him for another year now,” said Grassick.

“He's competitive when he gets back down to the mid 80s. He wears his heart on his sleeve and I left the blinkers off him on his first couple of starts this season as I was getting sick of putting them on him all the time and wanted to try something different.

“Mikey (Sheehy) thought the last day the ground might have been a bit lively, he looked outpaced and then ran on again at the end so I thought I might put the blinkers back on him.

“I said to Billy if he got the break to send him and ride it like it's six furlongs as there was a tailwind behind him and nothing was coming from behind today.

“He's in on Sunday over six furlongs but there is no rain forecast. I want to run him but if nothing falls between now and then he won't be running. We'll walk it Sunday morning and hopefully we can run him.”