Classic ace Heffernan seeking jumps glory in Pierse
Heffernan, who had three Irish Classic victories in 2008 for Aidan O’Brien, rode two winners over hurdles at Limerick’s Christmas Festival.
His prowess over the smaller obstacles did not go unnoticed with several trainers vying for his services, but it was O’Grady who snapped up Heffernan.
“Mr O’Grady rang me. He said the horse had a light weight and asked me if I would like to ride him. I said I would,” he said.
Heffernan will be getting the leg up on a fancied contender as Fen Game is 9-1 joint third-favourite with William Hill.
The €110,000-contest is one of the most competitive handicaps in the Irish jumping calendar. It has attracted a maximum field of 30 and Heffernan knows he will need the rub of the green.
“I’m hoping the horse gets a lucky run around, gets a good run and can pick up some money,” he went on.
“It’s a big field, but hopefully they’ll go quick and sort themselves out and we’ll get a split when we want it.
“You need a lot of luck in it but it’s a big prize. His last run round Leopardstown was pretty good and I’m feeling good about it.
“It’s good for me to get a decent horse. I can pick and choose my rides but I really love riding over hurdles.
“I had a couple of offers in the race but I made a commitment to Mr O’Grady a while back that if he ran him I would ride it.”
Handicap king Tony Martin is praying for rain to aid his two challengers Psycho and Robin Du Bois, who are the top two in the betting at 6-1 and 15-2 respectably with Coral.
They are both proven in testing conditions and the going at the Dublin track is currently described as yielding, although some rain is forecast.
“They are two horses that go on softish ground, the softer the ground the better as it will slow the others down a bit hopefully. I’d love to see it a bit softer for both,” said the County Meath trainer.
Psycho showed he was a force to be reckoned with in big handicaps when just failing by three-quarters of a length to peg back Pierse rival Silver Jaro in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
“He ran very last year in Cheltenham, he was a bit unlucky, then we went a bridge too far and went to Fairyhouse with him but he’s coming back to himself now,” Martin went on.
“He seems in good form and we’re hoping for a good run.”
Robin Du Bois, who ran over three miles at the Festival in the Pertemps Hurdle Final, staked his claim for the Pierse by winning at Cork in November.
“You’d hope he’d have a good chance as well. He ran well in Cork, but the more you have in a race like this better and I’m hoping both will go well,” he added.
Superior Ben gets in at the bottom of the handicap and his trainer Dessie Hughes is also hoping for a trouble-free passage.
“He’s been running consistently well so we thought we’d let him take his chance – it’s a good prize,” said the Kildare-based handler.
“With 30 runners you need a bit of luck, but he’s in good form and hopefully run well.”
Top owner JP McManus has no less than three chances of scooping the prize with Wanango, Dancing Tornado and Alpine Eagle carrying his colours.
Dancing Tornado, trained by Michael Hourigan, showed he was ready for the task ahead when successful over the course and distance two weeks ago.
“Dancing Tornado won well the last day and has come out of the race good, Michael’s happy with him,” said McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry.
“We’re hoping for a good run. He got a 4lb penalty for winning, but you’d have to expect that.”
Alpine Eagle, from Jessica Harrington’s stable, was only caught close home when beaten a length at Limerick on St Stephen’s Day.
“He ran a big race at Limerick, but he just got chinned,” Berry went on.
“He’s in good form. He lacks a bit of experience, but he has a nice weight and he won’t mind if the ground stays good.”
The Tommy Stack-trained Wanango reverts to the smaller obstacles after coming a cropper at the final fence at Cork last month.
“He was running a big race at Cork the last day when he fell at the last. He seems in good form and we’re hoping for the best,” Berry added.
Pierse Hurdle betting
Coral: 6-1 Psycho, 15-2 Robin Du Bois, 9-1 Imperial Hills, 10-1 Alpine Eagle, Fen Game, 12-1 Dancing Tornado, 14-1 Splurge, 16-1 Deutschland, On The Way Out, Silver Jaro, Vital Plot, 18-1 Turtle Time Lucky, 20-1 bar.
William Hill: 7-1 Psycho, Robin Du Bois, 9-1 Fen Game, Imperial Hills, 11-1 Alpine Eagle, 14-1 Dancing Tornado, On The Way Out, Splurge, Vital Point, 16-1 Silver Jaro, Turtle Time Lucky, 20-1 bar.
Cashmans: 13-2 Psycho, Robin Du Bois, 8-1 Imperial Hills, Fen Game, 12-1 Dancing Tornado, Deutschland, Alpine Eagle, 14-1 On The Way Out, Splurge, Silver Jaro, 20-1 Carthalawn.
