Listener 'on target' for Hennessy

Nick Mitchell is preparing himself for another few days with just The Listener for company as the pair travel over for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

Mitchell, who is assistant to trainer Robert Alner, accompanied the grey on a number of his trips to Ireland, including the victory in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase and his recent third-place finish to Denman in the Lexus Chase.

The Listener very nearly won the Hennessy last year, when leading nearly all the way until Beef Or Salmon caught him on the line.

“He’s fully on target for the Hennessy and we’re following exactly the same plan so I will leave with him on the Thursday ahead of Sunday’s race,” explained Mitchell.

“He’s going well at the moment. We let him down for a while after Christmas but we’ve been building him back up and he’s exactly where we want him.

“I’m hoping it will rain a bit more over there. There has been a little during the week, but as much as we can get without it being cancelled will do fine!”

The Listener is 100-30 second favourite for the race with Boylesports, behind 11-4 market leader Mossbank.