Longhouse Poet impresses as he returns on the Grand National trail
Monday: Limerick
Longhouse Poet hardened to a general 16-1 shot for the Grand National after getting back to winning ways in the 2m4f conditions hurdle for trainer Martin Brassil and jockey Ricky Doyle.
It was Doyle's first winner for owners Sean and Bernardine Mulryan and he executed a fine tactical ride on the son of Yeats. He helped set a very sedate pace and his mount jumped slickly before getting the better of the staying-on Bois De Clamart by a length, with the somewhat disappointing favourite Pinkerton in third.
Longhouse Poet will be attempting to improve on his sixth in last season's Grand National and Doyle said: "They hold him in high regard and this looked an ideal race to try to get his head back in front. I assume all roads lead back to Aintree but this was a nice stepping stone.
"He showed plenty of gears and was very slick over his hurdles. He's a proper horse and he knew what he was doing."
Bonnie bolts up
Nobody had more of an armchair ride than Phillip Enright, who guided Bonnie Kellie to an easy success in the 2m1f handicap chase.
Enright always travelled well, and the further they went the tighter the rein he was on as the daughter of Shantou drew right away between the final two fences to win by an eased seven lengths from Cahirdown Boy and The Eye Of Tulla.
Winning trainer Sam Curling had the foresight to enter her again in a handicap chase and a handicap hurdle here on Thursday.
He said: "She had a good run the last day and jumped super today. I thought all along that she wanted good ground but she obviously doesn't.
"She's in again on Thursday and if she is all right in the morning she will run. I would think she will get a fair whack off the handicapper for that!"
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