Newmill leads 37 Pierse possibles

NEWMILL will be required to carry top weight should John Murphy let his charge take his chance in Sunday’s Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The two-mile event is one of the most competitive handicap hurdles in the Irish calendar and has drawn 37 entries.

Newmill is not likely to be among the major fancies as although he has very decent form over timber, in his recent runs over fences he has looked a long way inferior to the horse who won the 2006 Queen Mother Champion Chase.