Racing:Michael Halford has described the Pierse Hurdle favourite, Do The Trick, as one of the most versatile horses he has trained in terms of ground and that could be a big advantage in Sunday's big race as up to an inch of rain is being forecast for Leopardstown this week.
The going at the Dublin track is currently described as "yielding", but conditions are expected to deteriorate significantly by the weekend, with soft ground predicted for the first big race of 2008.
"Between 20-25mms is expected this week, with more than half an inch forecast for Tuesday alone. It's very unsettled and if we get all that rain I think we'll be looking at soft on Sunday," said the Leopardstown manager, Tom Burke, yesterday.
That could mean some running plans will be changed ahead of today's important forfeit stage for the €130,000 feature, but favourite backers won't be overly concerned about Do The Trick's credentials.
The versatile Australian bred horse has winning form on a variety of surfaces, including on firm ground on the flat in his native country, and Halford reports the horse to be right on course for the Pierse.
"He's as versatile as I've had in terms of ground. He won his maiden hurdle on heavy ground at Sligo so he should be okay for Sunday. Having said that, I don't think anyone would want it to get too bad," the Curragh trainer said.
Paul Carberry rode Do The Trick in his last start at Leopardstown over Christmas, but riding plans for Sunday are unlikely to be cleared up before today's forfeits. "Paul will probably have to ride for Noel Meade, but we'll wait and see until the forfeits come out," he added. "Paddy Flood won a maiden on him so his name would be in the hat, but there's nothing definite yet."
A lot of running decisions will depend on the topweight for the race and with the Jessica Harrington pair of Hide The Evidence and Albanov unlikely to run, it looks like Alexander Taipan could end up leading a five-strong team from the Willie Mullins yard. Mullins, a Pierse winner in 2002 with Adamant Approach, hasn't ruled out running all five of his entries and if Alexander Taipan does take his chance, it looks like resulting in a 7lbs hike in the weights.
"All five are possibles. We're looking at the race for Alexander Taipan, O'Hana is in good form, Viso is all right, Jayo is alright and Deutschland is in good shape," he said. "There are other options there but there aren't many races for them worth €130,000."
Mullins also could be a major player in Saturday's Grade Three Punchestown Juvenile Hurdle where Sunday's impressive Naas winner, Temlett, may make a quick reappearance.
The Ulster Derby winner is one of 13 horses remaining in the race along with his stable companion Sonnium while Dermot Weld could introduce a potential jumping star in the shape of the grey Prince Erik.
The Weld horse finished sixth behind Soldier Of Fortune in the Irish Derby at the Curragh last summer and before that beat the subsequent Irish Champion Stakes third Red Rock Canyon in a mile-and-a-quarter maiden at Leopardstown.
Looking further ahead, the 2006 Champion Hurdler Brave Inca may yet appear this season after trainer Colm Murphy reported yesterday that the prolific Grade One winner is back cantering. Last August Brave Inca was ruled out for this season due to a tendon problem but is now reported to be back in good shape.
"He's started back and is cantering away. He's got the all-clear. We more than likely won't run this season, but then again we are not ruling anything out," Murphy said.
"The plan was always to have him back early next year. We are just looking forward to having him back and playing it by ear. But if he does come to hand that little bit quicker, you never know," he added.
Dusty Sheehy has confirmed the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle as Trafford Lad's Cheltenham target after the Grade One winner only just failed to beat Venalmar at Naas on Sunday.
