Heffernan looks to guide Fen Game home

LEOPARDSTOWN PREVIEW:RIDING SONS of Montjeu to big race success is hardly a novel experience for Séamus Heffernan but it will still be something out of the ordinary if Fen Game can carry the classic winning rider to victory in tomorrow's Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown, writes Brian O'Connor

It's hardly unknown for Ireland's top flat jockeys to make an impression over jumps. Johnny Murtagh came agonisingly close to a Cheltenham victory on Golden Cross in 2006, while Fran Berry won a Coral Cup on Khayrawani in 1999.

Heffernan has dabbled in riding over hurdles in recent years but this €110,000 feature, the first major pot of 2009, would be a significant notch in the 35-year-old jockey's belt. Edward O'Grady has booked Heffernan for Fen Game and he is certainly securing a jockey in form. Heffernan had two rides at Limerick over Christmas and won on the pair of them.

Such ventures, Heffernan believes, keep his fitness levels high ahead of another flat season when he will attempt to emulate a hugely successful 2008. Three Irish classics, including the Derby on the Montjeu colt Frozen Fire, added to an already impressive big race CV over the years that includes winning on board great Derby winners such as Galileo, High Chaparral and Dylan Thomas.

Fen Game is no such star but he holds a live chance in a typically competitive renewal of a major prize that has attracted another maximum field of 30 runners.

The 2006 Champion Chase winner Newmill tops the weights but most ante-post interest during the week has centred on the Tony Martin-trained pair of Robin Du Bois and Psycho. Davy Russell's booking for the latter resulted in the Martin duo sharing favouritism in some lists, while champion trainer Willie Mullins is represented by four runners.

Imperial Hills appears to be the leader of the Mullins quartet based on an ultra-impressive course and distance victory during Christmas. Two lengths behind him was Fen Game who also travelled notably well throughout that race only to give best on the run in.

What makes things interesting is the 13lb hike in the ratings that Imperial Hills has had since. The Mullins team believe he is still improving but he will have to be to remain ahead of Fen Game.

The Pierse is a rare blank on O'Grady's big race CV in Ireland but the Co Tipperary trainer is a master of getting one right for when it matters and Fen Game's last start indicates a horse who is in good form right now.

Charles Byrnes landed a huge Pierse gamble with Dromlease Express in 2004 and there will be plenty of interest in Carthalawn who was sixth in that Imperial Hills race last month.

JP McManus has three chances of landing the Pierse for the first time but on balance, an in-form Fen Game looks an attractive proposition off 9st 11lb.

In contrast to the Pierse, O'Grady is a four-time past winner of the €90,000 Leopardstown Chase and looks to have a good chance to make it five tomorrow with Sky's The Limit. The reduction in race trip from three miles to two miles and five looks ideal for the high-class grey, who won the second of his Grade One victories over fences in the 2007 Durkan New Homes here.

Already a winner of the Coral Cup at Cheltenham over this trip, Sky's The Limit has seven lengths to make up on his rival Finger Onthe Pulse from a Grade Two race at Down Royal in October. However, the presence of last year's winner Mister Top Notch at the top of the handicap also means Sky's The Limit has an eye-catching weight of 10st 6lb.

Willie Mullins had the option of running Cooldine in the Grade Two Paddy Fitzpatrick Novice Chase but instead he has chosen to run Financial Reward despite that one having to carry a penalty for winning a similar type of race at Limerick over Christmas.

That three and a half length defeat of Top Of The Rock represented a career best for Financial Reward over fences and it could be worth betting that that rate of progress is continuing.

Tom Doodle didn't keep a completely straight course when running behind Imperial Hills last time but is worth checking out when tackling the trip for the first time in the Pertemps qualifier over three miles.