Longhouse Poet looks nice prospect for Brassil

Longhouse Poet gave connections a nice boost after the disappointing run of City Island earlier on the card when making a successful debut under rules in the GVA Donal O’Buachalla Property Advisors Flat Race at Punchestown.

City Island failed to follow up his Cheltenham Festival triumph when sixth in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle but owners Sean and Bernardine Mulryan and trainer Martin Brassil gained some compensation here with the Boulta point-to-point winner.

The 6/1 chance led off the home turn and kept on well for Derek O’Connor, who also won on him at Boulta and was completing a double on the day, to beat 5/2 favourite Monkfish by two and a half lengths. Politesse kept on to finish a further three and three quarters lengths away in third.

Brassil said, “He's done nothing but please us since we got him. He won his point-to-point well and he jumps really. Derek liked him so he recommended him and he's a good judge. I only have him since February and he's really thrived since I got him.

“He'll go jumping in the autumn and he's a real winter horse really. He handled that ground nicely and he's a lovely horse to look forward to.”

The local trainer also reflected on City Island's run saying, "He's fine. We checked him out and the vets looked at him. Cheltenham just left it's mark and we had to come here to find out.

“He's a really nice horse. We'll have a chat about plans for him next season later on when the dust settles.”