Que Ready To Spring Pierse Surprise

Robert Tyner is optimistic that Spring The Que can jump into the reckoning for top honours in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

In just his first run back since May 2005, the eight-year-old was beaten only two and a half lengths by View Mount Prince at Punchestown last month.

The winner went on to score again at Leopardstown over Christmas and is now one of the leading fancies for the ever-competitive two-mile test.

Spring The Que, a general 25-1 shot, has a decent turnaround in the weights with that rival this time, however, and his handler is anticipating another bold show.

'He's on target for the race and all's going well,' reported County Cork-based Tyner.

'I was very pleased with his reappearance ? it was his first run for a year and a half as he'd been off with a back problem.

'I think he will come on for the run and he's quite a few pounds better off with View Mount Prince.'

Tyner is not concerned about the drop back from two and a half miles this weekend but hopes the ground is not completely bottomless.

'The trip will not be a problem, he said. 'The ground would be a little concern but it was soft enough last time at Punchestown, so he should be OK.

'Patrick Enright, who rode him last time, will be back on and I'd be hopeful he'd run well.'

Likely to be among his rivals in the 130,000 feature are the Arthur Moore-trained pair Lenrey and Well Mounted.

The former is currently on offer at a best-priced 9-1 after stretching to an effortless victory at Fairyhouse in early December.

While the seven-year-old has understandably shot up the handicap as a result, Moore still thinks he will go well at the weekend.

Reflecting on that victory, he said: 'He did it very well on the day. He'd been working very well at home and I was hopeful that he'd recovered from a bug he had last year.

'He did it well but got a 15lb penalty in the process which is a fair hike to get going into a race like the Pierse.

'But he's in good form, we're very happy with him and I'm expecting a big run.'

And with reference to the likely heavy going, Moore added: 'It's going to be as testing as it can get but it's the same for all of them. I think he'd prefer better ground but he should handle it OK.

'Davy Russell rides Lenrey and Philip Carberry will be on Well Mounted,' he told At The Races.

Carberry will be having his first ride on the latter, who finished fifth behind Acambo in the Ladbroke Handicap when last seen in racecourse action.

Prior to that, he had delighted the County Kildare handler when finishing a close third behind Victram at Down Royal.

Of that performance, he said: 'It was a good run and it was on the basis of that that we decided to go to Ascot (for the Ladbroke).

'I don't really think he deserved to be favourite last time but he ran a respectable race, he just wasn't quite good enough on the day.

'It was respectable though and I think he wants a bit further so the Pierse might be his last time over two miles. We'll then look to step him up.'

(C) PA Sport