Listener to bid for Irish redemption

The Listener will try to gain compensation back across the Irish Sea next month following his early exit at Down Royal.

Trainer Robert Alner has the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on December 9 in mind for the eight-year-old grey.

The Listener only got as far as the third fence in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase when he unseated Daryl Jacob before running loose.

“He’s absolutely fine. It was a disappointment, but there you go,” said Alner.

“They weren’t going fast enough. He has such power, he enjoys jumping so much he just overdid it. Next time we go over he’ll go a faster gallop and bowl along.

“The idea was to hunt round for a circuit on Saturday then make it a race but he didn’t get to do that.

“We’re now heading for the John Durkan at Punchestown.”

Alner has no plans for Kingscliff after he was last of the five finishers behind the trailblazing Ollie Magern in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

“He’s OK, but we’ve no plans for him at the moment.

“That was a hell of a race and they went some gallop. When Ollie Magern’s like that, he’s just unbelievable.

“I think my owner was disappointed we didn’t lie up with him but I don’t think there were even many hurdlers who could lie up with that horse.”