McNamara looks able deputy for The Listener

LEOPARDSTOWN GOLD CUP:ANDREW McNAMARA denied The Listener a Hennessy Gold Cup triumph in 2007 but the leading Irish jockey will be on the grey's back when he attempts to defend his Leopardstown crown on Sunday.

A total of just eight entries remain in the €200,000 highlight of this weekend’s triple Grade One card with half of them trained across-channel and both Neptune Collonges and Exotic Dancer dominating the ante-post betting.

The Listener, though, is the reigning Hennessy champion and his Leopardstown pedigree also includes a Lexus triumph over the course and distance.

Possibly his most famous moment, however, remains the 2007 Hennessy when he looked all over the winner only for McNamara to conjure a dramatic late run from Beef Or Salmon to deny the English horse on the line.

The Listener’s regular rider, Co Wexford-born Daryl Jacob, was on board the Nick Mitchell-trained grey when they fell at the second fence in December’s Lexus and has paid the price, being replaced by McNamara.

“The horse is fine after his fall and has done some schooling with Yogi Breisner,” Mitchell said yesterday. “Andrew came over last Tuesday and got on really well with him.”

He added: “The horse is showing his old zest and I think he retains all his ability. With luck, and a clear round on Sunday, and the ground in his favour, he should show his old sparkle. I think I have him in as good a form as last year.”

The Listener is as low as 7 to 1 in ante-post exchanges for Sunday but it is his compatriots, Neptune Collonges and Exotic Dancer, who have dominated the betting in the run up to the race.

Tony McCoy is set to again team up with Exotic Dancer who took advantage of Neptune Collonges’ exit at the second last in the Lexus to break his Grade One duck. Exotic Dancer is also in Saturday’s Aon Chase at Newbury but a trip to Dublin is more likely.

“The plan is to go to Ireland on Thursday. He was entered in the Aon as a precaution. We will keep an eye on the weather but the plan has been the Hennessy for some time,” said Barry Simpson, racing manager to owner Robert Ogden.

“The horse is in good form. Jonjo (O’Neill) has been relatively free weather wise and he has been able to continue working the horses,” Simpson added.

Jim Dreaper’s Welsh National hero Notre Pere looks the main hope among the home team and a good performance on Sunday could yet see him enter the Cheltenham Gold Cup picture.

“He has been ticking over since Chepstow and he appears to be progressing as while it was soft at Chepstow it wasn’t Irish soft. They will be proper horses on Sunday, horses who have proved themselves in Graded company, but the race will tell us where to pitch him,” Dreaper said yesterday.

“The ground will make it a really long three miles but if he runs a big race the Gold Cup could come into consideration,” he added.

Leopardstown’s management are hopeful the weather won’t interfere with Sunday’s fixture and the Dublin track had all but cleared of snow yesterday. “It’s a difficult call but we are hopeful at the moment that the forecast will work in our favour. We will monitor things through the week,” said manager Tom Burke. “We could get more snow on Wednesday but then it is set to be dry through to Saturday.”

Champion trainer Willie Mullins has kept open the option of running both Hurricane Fly and Cousin Vinny in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle for which 10 entries remain including Noel Meade’s Pandorama.

Meade has also kept open the option of giving Nicanor a first start in almost three years in the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase. The only horse ever to beat Denman is one of 13 entries for the €100,000 Grade One which has also attracted top-flight scorers Trafford Lad, Tranquil Sea and Forpadydeplasterer.

Willie Mullins landed the Arkle with Golden Silver at Leopardstown 10 days ago and Cooldine, who races in the same Archie O’Leary colours, is also a Moriarty possible.

HENNESSY GOLD CUP (Paddy Power): 11-8 Neptune Collonges, 2 Exotic Dancer, 7 The Listener, 8 Notre Pere, 12 Air Force One, 16 Bar.

Powerstation is a stand-out bet at Down Royal Reports

THE WORLD Hurdle entry Powerstation gets the chance to warm up for another tilt at the Cheltenham Festival when he lines up at Down Royal this afternoon, writes Brian O'Connor

Racing is being hit badly across-channel by the current cold snap but no problems are anticipated for today's fixture or at Clonmel tomorrow.

The Clonmel manager DJ Histon said yesterday: "We are getting sleety snow but it is not settling and there should be no trouble."

Down Royal's manager Mike Todd reported: "The ground will be heavy here but temperatures are warming up already and we are being told the air-frost overnight won't be too bad."

That's good news for trainer Eamonn O'Connell who will be hoping the ratings are right in today's conditions hurdle and Powerstationis a stand-out.

The nine-year-old has been in good form since returning from chasing and possibly only interference at the second last prevented him beating Fair Along at Cheltenham in November.

He has a fine record at Prestbury Park over the years, finishing runner-up in the 2007 Coral Cup and also running second to Black Jack Ketchum at the festival the year before.

Powerstation's jockey Andrew McNamara will also fancy his chances in the maiden hurdle on Judge Roy Beanalthough this one has proved expensive to follow in the past.

His main opponent today looks like being Drive On Regardless whose run behind Lurgan last time has been boosted since. Judge Roy Bean is still preferred, however.

Ruby Walsh teams up with Lochan Lacha in the Beginners Chase and Tony Martin's horse should be hard to beat now that he returns to fences.

Lochan Lachalanded a gamble over hurdles at Navan in December and failed to defy an 11lb hike in the hurdles ratings on New Year's Day while French Tiescan land the opportunity handicap chase.