Leopardstown Preview:Do The Trick has come a long way to have his finest moment dependent on a night's rainfall but that's the precarious reality for this Australian-bred star who could start a strong favourite for tomorrow's €130,000 Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown.
A total of 28 opponents are scheduled to line up against Michael Halford's horse in the first major prize of 2008 and while they constitute their own threat, a more immediate one is the up to 15mms of overnight rain forecast for the Dublin course.
An inspection will take place at 7.30am tomorrow.
"If we get all that, I would be worried," conceded the Leopardstown manager Tom Burke yesterday.
"We're raceable today and I would certainly say we will be raceable on Saturday. But it's a fingers crossed job to see how this forecast rain affects us. It isn't supposed to stop until about 9am on Sunday morning."
Already the two-mile SM Morris Handicap Hurdle has been divided to provide the chance of a five-hurdle and one-bumper card should the chases be cancelled. In that event, racing will begin at 1.20pm.
Such conditions will be a long way from where Do The Trick spent his formative years. It will certainly be a long way from the South Victoria course of Seymour where the seven-year-old made his debut over six furlongs in 2004.
Do The Trick raced 12 more times in Australia, winning three times, before embarking on a dramatic change of scenery.
"A friend of mine, John McGrath, recommended him. His son, Shane, managed a stud in Australia and figured the horse had the physique to do well in National Hunt racing here," Halford said yesterday.
"I'd seen DVDs, photos and pedigrees of him and when he made it to England, I went to see him, and owner Paul Rooney bought him. I'd no idea how he would settle in but he was amazing. He has a great constitution and is really easy to train," the Curragh trainer added.
Do The Trick has thrived as a dual-purpose operator for Halford in the last 18 months, winning the last race of the 2007 turf campaign on the flat and then running an eye-catching Pierse trial when unlucky behind Streets Of Gold and Deutschland here during Christmas.
He has been favourite since betting opened and despite this being an ultra-competitive event, he looks on a winning mark and will take a lot of beating.
Willie Mullins pitches in five runners alone including Deutschland and the topweight Alexander Taipan. Along with Lenrey, who represents the six-time race winner Arthur Moore, and the likes of Indian Pace and Silver Jaro, Deutschland appears a big danger.
However, Do The Trick's proven ability to act on all types of ground could be crucial in the conditions. He won on firm going in Australia but managed to win his maiden hurdle on heavy at Sligo.
"This is a more competitive race but he's as versatile as I've had in terms of ground," Halford said.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit worried about very bad ground but he's a fine big horse, and he's improving, so we're hopeful."
Arthur Moore's Leopardstown Chase record is impressive, too, with four wins beginning with Royal Bond 26 years ago.
This time the trainer runs Tony McCoy's mount King Johns Castle and especially the novice Notable D'Estruval who runs here instead of the Grade Two Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Novice Chase.
Notable D'Estruval looked very unlucky in a Grade Two at Limerick on St Stephen's Day when falling through an over-jump just as he was getting into contention. Even against experienced opposition, his chance looks obvious off only 10st 1lb.
Perce Rock is on a recovery mission in the novice chase after a fall here during Christmas but will do well to cope with Glencove Marina whose fencing career began last month and whose winning hurdling form on heavy ground may be significant in these conditions.
Some star names will line up in the Pertemps Qualifier including last year's winner Adamant Approach. At the other end of the handicap, however, is the Cesarewitch winner Sandymount Earl who is just 2lb out of the weights proper and who should relish this marathon distance.
