Martin pair head market as 30 declared for Pierse Hurdle

The Tony Martin-trained Psycho and Robin du Bois head the betting as 7/1 joint-favourites with Ladbrokes for the Pierse Hurdle after a maximum field of 30 were declared for the 110,000 handicap hurdle.

There were no significant defectors at the 48-hour declaration stage, with Newmill heading the weights at 11st10lb leaving a number of fancied runners including Imperial Hills, Fen Game and Alpine Eagle all in the handicap proper at around the 10st mark.

Martin would like to see rain for his two runners as both are proven in testing conditions. The going at the Dublin track is currently described as yielding, although some rain is forecast this weekend.

'They are two horses that go on softish ground, the softer the ground the better as it will slow the others down a bit hopefully. I'd love to see it a bit softer for both,' said the Co. Meath trainer.

Psycho showed he was a force to be reckoned with in big handicaps when just failing by three-quarters of a length behind Silver Jaro in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last March.

'He ran very well last year in Cheltenham. He was a bit unlucky but then we went a bridge too far and went to Fairyhouse with him but he's coming back to himself now,' Martin added.

'He seems in good form and we're hoping for a good run.'

Robin du Bois, who ran over three miles at the Festival in the Pertemps Hurdle Final, staked his claim for the Pierse by winning at Cork in November.

'You'd hope he'd have a good chance as well. He ran well in Cork, but the more you have in a race like this the better and I'm hoping both will go well,' said Martin.

The meeting seems certain to go ahead with a thaw already setting in at the Dublin track, and temperatures on Sunday set to reach a high of 13 degrees.

'The frost has virtually all gone at this stage. Milder conditions are moving in from today with some rain on Saturday afternoon and possibly again on Sunday morning,' said Leopardstown general manager Tom Burke.

'Temperatures on Sunday are set to get up to as high as 13 degrees. At the moment we are calling the hurdles course yielding, and the chase course yielding to soft.'

'The going could change, it all depends on how much rain we get. There are varying predictions on that, so we'll have to wait and see,' added Burke.

Ladbrokes bet: 7/1 Psycho, Robin du Bois, 9/1 Imperial Hills, 10/1 Alpine Eagle, Fen Game, 11/1 Dancing Tornado, 14/1 Bar.

Paddy Power bet: 6/1 Psycho, Robin du Bois, 10/1 Imperial Hills, Fen Game, 12/1 Alpine Eagle, Dancing Tornado, 14/1 Bar.