Listener given Festival prep

The Listener warms up for Cheltenham by taking on four rivals in the totepool Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Lingfield tomorrow.

The seven-year-old, generally available at 8-1 for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, was last seen completing a hat-trick at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

“He had three quick races in the month up to New Year’s Day and we’ve given him a break,” said trainer Robert Alner.

“I’m sure he’ll do his best tomorrow but obviously the priority is to train him for Cheltenham.

“Tomorrow’s race will be one on the way to that goal. At least it will be soft enough and he gets the trip OK.”

Three of his rivals – Nicky Henderson’s Crozan, the Colin Tizzard-trained Bob Bob Bobbin and Tom George’s Idle Talk – also hold entries in the SunAlliance Chase.

The other runner in tomorrow’s Grade Two contest over three miles is the Lavinia Taylor-trained Montgermont, who won at Exeter in early January.