Exciting pointers to clash in Naas Grade 1 on Sunday

The Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle is set to feature the clash of a number of exciting recent point-to-point graduates, including the unbeaten Envoi Allen and French Dynamite who line up alongside Longhouse Poet with plenty of Cheltenham clues set to be on offer.

Martin Brassil landed the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last season with City Island and carrying the same colours of Sean and Bernardine Mulryan, the Curragh-based trainer appears to have another smart prospect on his hands in the shape of Longhouse Poet.

He will be aiming to lower the colours of the unbeaten Envoi Allen in what looks a stellar renewal of the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle and Brassil is hopeful of a good showing from the six-year-old, who had made winning debut in a Boulta four-year-old maiden for Sam Curling.

"Longhouse Poet won his maiden nicely and he is probably going into the deep-end a little in a Grade 1 against experienced horses," Brassil said. "The trip will suit him and we'll find out his level on Sunday.

"Naas is a good honest staying track and he seems to be that type of horse that wants two and a half miles and a track like Naas."

Ballinaboola four-year-old maiden victor Envoi Allen will once again be ridden by three-time champion jockey Davy Russell and the Cork native spoke of his fondness for the Champion Bumper winner earlier this week.

"Envoi Allen is a big strong horse with a lot of ability. Gordon (Elliott) has done a fantastic job with the horse and everyone seems happy with him at home,” Russell said.

“His form is rock solid and we are really happy with him. It’s a pleasure to be around him.
 
“Naas is a very good racecourse and a tough racecourse so you need a very good horse to win around there. I have no doubt that Sunday will be a true test,” he added.

Gordon Elliott will also run Conflated in the opening Grade 1 of the calendar year, with the son of Yeats having contested the same four-year-old maiden at Borris House that was won by Andy Dufresne in 2018.

Irish pointing exports have won the last four renewals of the Grade 1 contest, and have a four-strong representation in the 2020 contest which is completed by the highly regarded French Dynamite.

He seeks to follow up a point-to-point victory and a winning racecourse debut at Thurles by giving trainer Mouse Morris a third win in the race. Morris enjoyed success with Venalmar in 2008 and subsequent Grand National winner Rule The World in 2013.

Robbie Power rides French Dynamite and commented: "This looks a very good race but French Dynamite was impressive when he won his maiden at Thurles and I'm looking forward to sitting on him again as he steps up in class.

"He is a point-to-point winner so I think the extra distance at Naas on Sunday will suit him well," Power continued. "Envoi Allen would look to be the one we all have to beat but French Dynamite is a lovely horse and this will give us an idea of where we go for the rest of the season with him."

The field is completed by the Joseph O’Brien pair of Midnight Run and Anything Will Do, whilst Willie Mullins is represented by Elixir D’ainay.

Twenty four hours earlier there will be further pointing representation in the Grade 1 Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday, with Fiddlerontheroof looking to follow up his course and distance success from last month.

Colin Tizzard’s charge, who contested two points for Shirley Berry, will look to give the trainer his third success in the race in the last four renewals, with Finian’s Oscar winning in 2017.

He is joined by Silver Hallmark, with Pat Doyle’s Tattersalls Farm winner looking to continue winning ways for Evan Williams, having recorded a four-length success on his hurdling debut at Chepstow in November.