Russell expects Mossbank to confirm form

Davy Russell expects Mossbank to best The Listener once again when the pair renew rivalries in Thursday´s Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Mossbank finished a head in front of The Listener as the duo chased home Denman in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Despite The Listener having subesequently won the Hennessy, Russell remains confident of his Michael Hourigan-trained mount confirming that form.

"All conditions suit him and he´s a big, light-framed horse so he´d enjoy better ground - but I still feel he´d handle it if the rain came," said the jockey.

"I feel if I had ridden him more positively last time I´d have finished further ahead of The Listener and I´d be disappointed if I was second to that horse on Thursday."

Nick Mitchell, assistant trainer to Robert and Sally Alner, is anticipating a bold bid from stable star The Listener, who has been treated for a minor problem since winning the Hennessy.

"After the Hennessy we found a slight tear in his hind-quarters and he´s had physio for that," explained Mitchell.

"We´re also going to try a new bit to try and stop him jumping right-handed a touch.

"The ground conditions seem to be about right, but I must admit I would have preferred it on the New Course.

"I walked it on Sunday and there was definitely more ease in that one, although hopefully the rain we´ve had since will make it fine.

"The Listener certainly seems really well and it´s shaping into a great race, I´m going to enjoy it just as a spectacle."

Mitchell is under no illusion as to the scale of the task ahead.

"I think it´s difficult to split around four of them to be honest. I did think Tamarinbleu was the obvious one to beat so I´m glad he´s not there," he continued.

"Having said that, I think Our Vic will be very interesting in headgear.

"He doesn´t have a renowned love for the hill but he could be really hard to peg back if they have an effect.

"I think we´re pretty much level with Mossbank. He beat us in the Lexus, but might have been ridden more for a place and it´ll be close with them running on their merits.

"The Listener has beaten Star De Mohaison giving him just under a stone at Cheltenham before, so I´m not too worried about the track.

"But you could run the race of your life here and still only finish fourth."

Andrew McNamara partners last year´s Queen Mother Champion Chase fifth Justified in the two-mile-five-furlong heat, which will be run as a Grade One for the first time this term.

However, the nine-year-old has not won since last October and tipped up in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran on his final prep run.

"He mightn´t be far away on his best form but he´d have to recapture that first," said McNamara.