This leaves Adamant Approach's stable-companions Mister Hight and Quatre Heures, the mount of Ruby Walsh, burdened with joint top-weight of 11st 10lb, while Adamant Approach, with trainer Willie Mullins's son Patrick in the saddle, is more favourably treated in the three mile Pertemps qualifier with 11st 1lb on his back.

The rise in the weights for the Pierse Hurdle has been warmly welcomed by Tony McCoy who would have been unable to ride at 10st 2lb, the weight originally allocated to his mount New Field. Colleague Denis O'Regan had been drafted in to replace McCoy on the J.P. McManusowned gelding, but now that order has been maintained, expect to see New Field, from the Tom Mullins stable, sent off at a much shorter price.

McCoy was aboard the nine-year-old when New Field prevailed at Leopardstown last season, and connections will be hoping the gelding encounters better fortune on this tight inside track than he did over the course and distance last time. He met with traffic problems, both before and after the final flight, when a close fourth behind First Row at the Christmas meeting, and Mullins believes he would have won with a clear run.

The Eoin Griffin-trained Kendor Dine, who broke his duck over hurdles at this venue last month, is another raider who will be fancied under Barry Geraghty, while there will be lots of interest in View Mount Prince from the Pat Hughes yard.

View Mount Prince has been raised a total of 29lb for the three wins he has gained in the last six weeks, but there is still every reason to believe the Timmy Murphy-ridden six-year-old remains one step ahead of the handicapper.

Tom Taaffe's Streetshavenoname is another for the shortlist. A winner on his hurdling debut at Limerick in November, he was sent off favourite to record a follow-up in a Cork handicap last month, only to make two costly errors. He should be much sharper on this occasion, but New Field and View Mount Prince still hold more appeal.

The vote in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle qualifier goes to Sizing Australia, while Sound Witness can continue the good run being enjoyed by trainer Robert Tyner in the Pierse Leopardstown Handicap Chase.