Longhouse Poet 'on the road to Aintree' as he heads Pertemps qualifier weights

Sunday: 3.15 Punchestown
Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) | 3m | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTE1/RTV

Could we be set for clues towards solving the annual Pertemps Final conundrum in the first Irish qualifier of the season? All eyes will be on who can finish in the first four with a view to March, and Gordon Elliott supplied the 1-2-5-6 in last year's running.

Coventry, who carries just 10st 6lb, looks the most appealing of Elliott's three candidates this time around, having shaped well when third over 2m6f at Galway last time.

Sassy Yet Classy won this race 12 months ago for Elliott but now runs for up-and-coming trainer Cian Collins, who may even have a better chance with recent Clonmel winner Robinstown.

Lord Erskine, fit from some positive runs on the Flat in recent months, is a live player off bottom weight for Harry Rogers, as is the returning Nell's Well, a Grade 3 novice hurdle winner over this trip last term for Sean O'Brien.

Lord Erskine: dual-purpose performer bids for a fourth win over hurdlesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The booking of Rachael Blackmore for the first time on capable novice Benny The Duke catches the eye. Ray Cody's representative could easily prove better than his mark if getting his jumping together.

Brassil suggests topweight could improve for seasonal return

Grand National-winning trainer Martin Brassil is plotting a path back to Aintree for last season's Thyestes Chase scorer Longhouse Poet, who finished sixth behind Noble Yeats in the world's most famous race when last seen.

Sean and Bernardine Mulryan's classy chaser was one of the leading fancies for last season's Grand National and starts the current campaign as a 33-1 shot for the same target.

He has been beaten on his seasonal return in each of the past three years and it appears improvement can be expected from this return.

Brassil said: "It's good to get him started off at a nice track in what looks a suitable race. We're hopefully starting the road back to Aintree. I was happy with his run in the National when he probably just over-raced.

"He has improved from his first start of the season in previous years and I'd imagine he could do the same again. Hopefully he'll run a nice race."

What they say

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Floueur, Jaycean and Coventry
Coventry seems a thorough stayer and has run two good races back-to-back now. He's got his chance in an open race. Floueur should come on for his first run of the season in the Munster National [when pulled up] and we have our eye on some of the better handicap chases later in the season for him. Jaycean strengthened up over the summer and hopefully he can improve upon his comeback run at Thurles.

Paul Townend, rider of Shewearsitwell
She's interesting stepping up to three miles for the first time. She won well over two and a half miles at Killarney earlier in the summer and her season sort of fell apart after that.

Cian Collins, trainer of Sassy Yet Classy and Robinstown
Sassy Yet Classy goes there in good form but is 12lb higher than when winning this race last year. Hopefully it should suit her again. Robinstown won nicely last time, runs off a nice weight [of 10st 8lb] now and might have the best chance of the two. I think the way the race could be run should suit him and the trip will be fine.

Sassy Yet Classy: bids for a repeat in the Pertemps Network Group Handicap HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Sean O'Brien, trainer of Nell's Well
She's got a lovely weight [of 10st 9lb] and I hope she'll be competitive off her mark. It's her first start of the season, but I think we have plenty done with her. We had been schooling her with a view to going chasing as she'll be retiring come the end of this season, but there aren't really any mares' beginners' chases to suit her in terms of distance. She stays this three miles well and if the ground is soft I think she'll run a good race.

Ray Cody, trainer of Benny The Duke
His jumping has let him down before, but we've brought him away for a few days of loose schooling to [international eventing rider] Sam Watson and we think he's improved in that department. He seems in great form, and I think the trip and ground will suit him. If he can jump well, I think he's got a good chance off bottom weight.

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