Leopardstown Sunday Info Champion trainer, Willie Mullins, could have as many as four runners in Sunday's (11th January 2009) Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown as his in-form stable seeks a follow-up to the surprise success of Adamant Approach in the 2002 renewal. A total of 37 initial acceptors, including lone possible English raider, Bolodenka from Richard Fahey's Yorkshire yard, were left in the Grade B two-mile contest that carries a winner's prize of E66,000. Imperial Hills which is on a hat-trick mission for Mullins and is the 6/1 joint favourite ante-post with Cashmans of Cork looks the pick of his quartet that also includes Sesenta, Deutschland and Mullach Na Si. Imperial Hills incurred a 13lb penalty for the Pierse Hurdle when successful most recently at the Dublin track during the Christmas Festival, when Dancing Tornado scored as well and went up by 4lb. Robin Du Bois, the Tony Martin trained other joint market leader, could be accompanied to the start in what looks like a maximum field of 30 runners by stable companions Psycho and Mourne Rambler. Back to winning ways in Cork last time out, Robin Du Bois and Psycho (10/1) would appear the County Meath trainer's best chances of emulating Xenophon which scored at 12/1 in the Pierse promotion six years ago. Newmill is the highest rated of the entries confirmed on a mark of 142. John Murphy's former Champion Chase hero from Cheltenham, could be joined on Sunday by another Festival victor in Tom Hogan's Silver Jaro. The other major contest on Sunday is the Leopardstown Handicap Chase at Grade A level, for which Davy Fitzgerald's Mister Top Notch with a current mark of 158 is the top rated probable 5lb ahead of Schindlers Hunt. Finger Onthe Pulse which scored at the Cheltenham Festival last March for Tom Taaffe and Sky's The Limit, formerly successful there over hurdles in the Coral Cup on behalf of Edward O'Grady also catch the eye here. Willie Mullins, with three of the eleven survivors thus far, holds a very strong hand in the Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Novice Chase, courtesy of Cooldine, Financial Reward and Equus Maximus while Bohemian Lass would be attempting a third victory on the trot if lining up for her Tipperary trainer Billy Harney. The opening Leopardstown Annual Badge Beginners Chase could feature yet another previous Cheltenham Festival scorer Ebaziyan (Willie Mullins) making his debut over the larger obstacles in company with Noel Meade's Aitmatov. The going this afternoon at Leopardstown was described by General Manager, Tom Burke, as yielding on the hurdles course, with the inner track being utilised on Sunday, and yielding to soft for the steeplechases. The updated forecast from the Met Office is for the weather to remain largely dry and cold up to and including Friday night, then becoming milder over the weekend.
