Brassil looking forward to Naas test with Poet Martin Brassil feels the course at Naas will play to the strengths of Longhouse Poet when he lines up in the Grade 1 Lawlors Of Naas Novice Hurdle on Sunday. The Yeats gelding has won three of his four starts to date and was most impressive when opening his hurdling account at Navan last month. Brassil nominated this two-and-a-half mile contest as the target immediately after that success and feels his stamina will come into play at the Kildare venue:- “He is a big strong horse, great bone, and I'd say he'll thrive and improve as his life goes on. “This trip suits, in testing conditions and at tracks likes Naas and Navan, as you have to be a stout stayer to win there in winter conditions. “There is no real place to hide in Naas. It's a good galloping track and there is always an honest pace throughout. “You have to pick up from the turn-in and from the back of the last is a good uphill finish.” Naas General Manager Eamonn McEvoy is excited by the quality of the field set to line up and the strength of the opposition to star name Envoi Allen:- “Envoi Allen is coming and Martin Brassil, a very shrewd operator, is bringing Longhouse Poet. Joseph O'Brien's Midnight Run is also going to come. “These guys know what they have. They know they are going to take him on now and have said they are going to take him on. “I think we really have a fantastic race in store. “The thing many people don't realise about Naas is that if you went down and walked the course that is some hill. “That is a hill to ready a horse for Cheltenham and that is why these guys are going. “Every horse entered in this race has an eye on Cheltenham and if they can come up this hill there is a great chance they'll go up that hill. “Naas has really become a great place to come racing and we just hope to improve it where we can and keep the great atmosphere. “I think that is the key to Naas, the atmosphere. There is always a good buzz and always good racing people come. “People who are new to racing can come in and find their way around very easily. That's very important too, it's a very welcoming place.”
