The St Stephen's Day hat-trick hero Andrew McNamara is hoping conditions don't turn too testing ahead of Sunday's Pierse Hurdle as the jockey is set to team up with Shazand in the first major prize of 2008 back at Leopardstown, writes Brian O'Connor, Racing Correspondent.

Shazand was part of a near 50 to 1 Christmas three-timer for the in-form jockey who also notched a double on New Year's Eve at Tramore.

Now McNamara is eyeing the first major date of the New Year on the Edward O'Grady-trained horse whose last two victories have resulted in him being a general 12 to 1 shot for the €130,000 Pierse.

"He's probably not as much of a mudlark as some in the race so I'm not sure how he will handle really bad ground," the rider said yesterday.

"But, having said that, he ran a nice race when fourth in a maiden at Punchestown on heavy ground behind Majestic Concorde."

Shazand's 8lb penalty for a three-length defeat of Hot Port during Christmas has turned into something of a double-edged sword as the hike means McNamara can do the weight but it also worries the jockey in terms of the horse's chance.

"That 8lbs could put him on the wrong side of the handicapper," he said.

"Having said he is in form and he has been improving. I wouldn't have been able to do 9st 13lb and I'd have been looking for something else without that penalty."

The good form enjoyed by the O'Grady stable was a feature of the holiday period and McNamara is confident that purple patch can extend to a Leopardstown return on Sunday.

"I don't see any reason why it shouldn't. A few of them haven't run too well since but the good ones ran at Christmas and I don't see why some of them shouldn't run as well again," he added, before pointing to the Tom Hogan Silver Jaro as a likely danger.

"He might go unnoticed but he was second to Indian Pace the last day and gets no penalty. He travels well in a race which is ideal for the Pierse," he said.

The 5 to 1 favourite Do The Trick and Barker from the James Barrett stable are reported to be the best backed Pierse contenders with Paddy Power who report that interest in Roman Villa has "quietened" with the change in going at the Leopardstown track.

"We've had nibbles at a few at big prices like Maralan and Lenery but the main interest is in the market leaders," a Paddy Power spokesman said yesterday.

Champion trainer Noel Meade has an entry of four horses to choose from for the Pierse at today's final declaration stage and he will be hoping for a change of fortune compared to recent weeks.

Meade has had just two winners (Cleni Boy on December 26th and Well Run on January 1st) since the start of Christmas which is a strike rate well below his usual form.

One trainer hoping the chase races get the go-ahead on Sunday is Tommy Stack whose Arkle hope, Perce Rock, is set to attempt to re-establish his Cheltenham credentials in the Grade Two novice chase at Leopardstown.

Perce Rock fell three out in the Durkan New Homes Chase over Christmas but has emerged unscathed from that mishap.

"We were pleased with how he was going the last day but he fell over half a mile out so it was too early to say if he'd have won or not.

"He came back fine and has schooled well since," said Stack's son and assistant Fozzy yesterday.

"Soft ground should be fine but we have had unbelievable rain - maybe he'll have to swim!" Stack added.

"It would be nice to go to Cheltenham but he needs to put in a clear round and do the right things first."