Adamant Approach Heads Pierse Hurdle Weights Adamant Approach heads the weights for Sunday's Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown. Willie Mullins's stalwart, who won the race as a novice in 2002 and finished fourth in 2005, demonstrated his well-being by winning a handicap hurdle at Punchestown on New Year's Day. Even at the age of 13, he is not without his chance. The Pierse Hurdle is traditionally one of the most competitive handicap hurdles on the Irish racing calendar, and this year's renewal looks wide open. The Arthur Moore-trained Lenrey has been well supported in the ante post markets in recent days. He opened his account over hurdles when he beat Artist's Muse in a handicap at Fairyhouse in early December. He has been raised by 15lb to a handicap mark of 120 for that effort, but he is an improver who could still be on the right side of the handicapper. He will be joined in the race by stable companion Well Mounted. Pat Hughes's novice View Mount Prince won well at Punchestown in early December and followed up at Leopardstown over Christmas off a 12lb higher mark. He has another 8lb hike to contend with, but he is another who could still have something in hand of the handicapper. The five-year-old Quatre Heures, well fancied for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last March, hasn't been seen out since he disappointed in a Grade 1 contest at Auteuil last June, but his trainer Willie Mullins knows what it takes to win a Pierse, and he is sure to be well primed. There are many others with chances. The Eoin Griffin-trained Kendor Dine, who will be ridden by Barry Geraghty, was an impressive winner of a maiden at Leopardstown over Christmas and will compete off just a 5lb higher mark on Sunday, while Noel Meade's Aitmatov, second to the high-class Clopf twice and comfortable winner of a novice hurdle in early December, gets to race off a reasonable-looking mark of 121 on his handicap debut. The ground is currently heavy.
