The Listener switched to Mitchell

The Listener has left the yard of Robert and Sally Alner and will now be trained by their former assistant Nick Mitchell.

The nine-year-old, owned by Raymond Humphreys whose horses run under the banner of Old Moss Farm, has won three Grade One chases in Ireland over the last two seasons.

Mitchell has decided to set up on his own next term and will be operating out of a 17-box yard at Piddletrenthide in Dorset.

Robert Alner is still in hospital following a serious car crash in November and he is unlikely to ever walk again.

Sally Alner now shares the licence but refused to get drawn into a war of words.

“Nick Mitchell used to be our assistant and he is taking over Mr Humphreys Old Moss Farm horses. There’s worse things that have happened at sea,” she said.

“It won’t be the first horses taken away and it won’t be the last. There is no ill feeling.

“It certainly hasn’t come as a surprise and I’ve got other things to think about really.”

Mitchell told the Racing Post: “I became aware of it on Monday morning. I have been over to see Sally and the feeling is that if he is going to go somewhere she is glad he is coming here.

“Basically he (Humphreys) wants continuity and I have had a close association with The Listener since he turned up at the yard as a four-year-old and I’ve done a lot of work with him.”