RACING: Willie Mullins launches a four-strong attack on the valuable Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow and believes all of them have some sort of a chance.
He will be represented by Sesenta, Deutschland, Imperial Hills and Mullach Na Si in the two-mile handicap.
Bookmakers rate Imperial Hills as his strongest claim after two recent wins and the trainer told At The Races: "He's come out of his last race very well and I'm delighted with him."
He added: "He has 13lb extra to carry for his win the last day and he'd gone up 10lb before that. It would be hard to expect him to win with 23lb more than he started the season with. However, he still has a racing weight of 10st."
Deutschland has fallen on his last two starts, but both those were in novice chases and he races off a 7lb lower mark than 12 months ago, when he finished seventh.
"Deutschland fell last time, but I thought he had the race won at the time. He stays all day, he had hit the front but he just knuckled on landing," added Mullins.
"Off the weight he has you'd have to look at him because his last run would have been a win, albeit over fences. He has a lovely weight of 10st 4lb with Ruby (Walsh) riding him. He's one I like anyway. He's a tough horse and the fall won't bother him."
He went on: "Sesenta is probably the smallest horse I have. She has 10st 9lb but Emmet's (Mullins) 5lb claim brings her right back into it on a racing weight, because I wouldn't want her to carry any more.
"She won at Listowel in a four-year-old hurdle and that would put her right in the mix. I'd give her a little squeak.
"Mullach Na Si is probably a horse I've been lining up for this, but he was very disappointing last time at Leopardstown. I think we'll change tactics on him for this. He has a chance, but not an obvious one looking at the form."