Longhouse Poet Completes Smart Double For Yeats

Longhouse Poet (8g Yeats - Moscow Madame, by Moscow Society) remains on track for another tilt at the Aintree Grand National after returning to winning ways at Limerick on St Stephen’s Day.

Martin Brassil’s Thyestes Chase victor raced prominently throughout the two and a half mile hurdle, and was pushed along when challenged approaching the penultimate flight. Keeping on strongly on the run-in, he was ridden out by Ricky Doyle to score by a length.

“Longhouse Poet has always been a horse held in high regard,” the winning rider later commented. “I assume Aintree is the plan but this was a nice race to get him back on the right direction. He's a proper horse.”

Owned by Sean and Bernardine Mulryan, Longhouse Poet has previously placed twice at Grade 1 level and finished sixth in the 2022 running of the Aintree Grand National. Bred by J Duggan, he completed a double on the day for Castlehyde Stud sire Yeats, with Eye Van (8g Yeats - Carey’s Lodge, by Bob Back) having earlier justified favouritism in the maiden hurdle at Down Royal.

Eye Van finished second at Grade 3 level before joining RP Cody’s yard this season and was narrowly denied on stable debut earlier this month. Partnered by Niall Moore on Monday, he raced prominently throughout and was pushed along approaching the second last. Ridden to lead on the run-in, he stayed on well to win by four lengths from Jimmy Chou Pecos Aa (Walk In The Park).

There is more to come from the winner, according to Moore, who said, “Eye Van stays further and when I gave him a squeeze away he went. He's a nice one with a real touch of class. He should improve again.”

Owned by Ms A Brislane, Eye Van was bred by Mrs Motherway.