Oh!
From Sporting Life!
LISTENER HEADS TO IRELAND
By Nick Robson, PA Sport
Robert Alner has outlined some early-season objectives for his smart chaser The Listener.
The dashing grey won the Lexus Chase last year and was only denied a Grade One double when collared in the final strides by Beef Or Salmon in the Irish Hennessy.
And due to his preference for soft ground, Alner is keen to campaign the eight-year-old in Ireland.
"We are governed by ground conditions and I wouldn't want to run him on anything faster than good," said Alner.
"He can act on good ground OK but both times at Leopardstown it was unbelievably wet and heavy and he just floated across it as if it was good ground, which is quite amazing.
"I'm not big on plans but basically we are having an Irish campaign which will take us until the end of this year and then we will think about Cheltenham and beyond - even what race he runs in there will depend on how we get there and how things have gone.
"We will start off hopefully in about three weeks at Down Royal in the James Nicholson Chase (November 3). After that there is the John Durkan at Punchestown (December 9) and back to Leopardstown for the Lexus (December 28) and the Hennessy (February 9)," he told At The Races.
"The prize money is very good indeed and it goes without saying that they are very hospitable over there, but you couldn't do it with every horse.
"The Listener is quite laid-back and travels well and it has to be a disadvantage to go away from home, but he has proved he can do it without a bother.
"Daryl Jacob will continue to ride him. He will come to ride him next week and he will school once a week until we run him.
"Touch wood we have had no hiccups with him and he came in a lot earlier this year."
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