Jacob Wary Of Compliance

Daryl Jacob believes In Compliance will prove the main danger in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup when he bids for another famous Leopardstown success on The Listener at the weekend.

The pair ran out eight-length winners over Beef Or Salmon in the Lexus Chase over Christmas and must now see off the Michael O'Brien-trained seven-year-old, who is likely to go off favourite in his bid to prove his stamina for a Cheltenham Gold Cup challenge.

'There's a new ingredient to this race with In Compliance. Nobody can be sure he will stay, but you only have to look at his form though to see he is a top-class horse over two and a half miles, so we won't hang about and turn it into a sprint,' Jacob said.

'Michael O'Brien seems to think he will have no problem getting the trip, but we will make it a proper test of stamina.

'They thought I would come back to them in the Lexus, but I've looked at the video again and I don't think I went quick enough, so I'll make sure I do this time.

'He gets himself into a nice rhythm over his fences and when I ask him for a big one he usually comes up for me.'

Jacob was partnering Robert Alner's grey for the first time in the Lexus and is relishing the challenge once more.

He added: 'There is a little talk that something may take us on for the lead and to tell you the truth I'd be quite happy if they did. Ideally I would like a lead to just sit in behind, it would help me an awful lot.

'I wouldn't imagine we would have a soft lead though, I think they will be pretty much on my heels the whole way after what happened last time.

'He quickened away from them after the second-last the last day. The ground has always been key to him and hopefully it will be soft again. They are expecting rain at the end of the week which is perfect.

'I went to school him earlier in the week and he feels fantastic. I'm looking forward to it.'

(C) PA Sport