Listener Does The Talking In Lexus Chase

The Listener, trained by Robert Alner, did all the talking at Leopardstown on Sunday with an extremely classy performance in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase.

The seven year old who was ridden for the first time by Daryl Jacob made all in the three mile race, jumped for fun and never looked like losing his position at the head of affairs.

He eventually came home eight lengths clear of Beef Or Salmon with last years totesport Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition a further five lengths behind in third place.

William Hill were very impressed and immediately slashed The Listener to 10-1 from 33-1 for the totesport Gold Cup while pushing War Of Attrition out to 9-2 from 7-2 for the Cheltenham Showpiece.

Ben Clarke of William Hill added: "The Listener had his favoured ground today and while it's highly unlikely that he will encounter such testing conditions at Cheltenham to beat two of the best chasers in Ireland so comprehensively puts him firmly in the frame as a potential Gold Cup winner."

Totesport Gold Cup: 6-4 Kauto Star, 9-2 War Of Attrition (from 7-2), 6-1 In Compliance, 10-1 The Listener (from 33), 14-1 Our Vic, State Of Play, 20-1 Exotic Dancer, Racing Demon, 25-1 Forget The Past, Hedgehunter, 33-1 Beef Or Salmon, Halcon Generlardais (inserted), Justified, L'Ami, Monkerhostin, Neptune Collongues, 50-1 Our Ben, 66-1 Cornish Rebel, Kingscliff