Top Quality Field for Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup

Leopardstown's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup day may have been switched from its traditional Sunday slot to Saturday, February 10th this year, but the quality of the racing is set to be as high as ever.

The Grade 1 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup itself features the re-match between The Listener and Beef Or Salmon. The last time this pair met was in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in December, when the Robert Alner-trained The Listener put in an exhibition of jumping to come home eight lengths clear of Beef Or Salmon, with Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition a further five lengths back in third. But Michael Hourigan's stalwart, winner of the Hennessy in 2003 and 2006, and of the Lexus Chase, run over the same course and distance, in 2002, 2004 and 2005, is sure to put it up to the youngster again this time.

The owner-trainer team of Sean Mulryan and Michael O'Brien is doubly represented courtesy of Forget The Past and In Compliance. The former, third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last March, was an impressive winner over hurdles on his seasonal debut at Punchestown just over a week ago, and is set to warm up for the Hennessy in the re-scheduled Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles tomorrow (Tuesday). In Compliance, as short as 13-2 for this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup, is one of the most exciting young chasers in training at present. He beat War Of Attrition in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase over two and a half miles at Punchestown last time, and will be stepping up to three miles for the first time in the Hennessy.

The quality of the field looks set to be further strengthened by the presence of last year's runner-up, Hedgehunter. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding was also runner-up in last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup and Aintree Grand National.

The supporting card on the day features the Deloitte Novice Hurdle, in which both De Valira and Aran Concerto ? current ante post favourites for the two-mile and two-and-a-half-mile novice hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival respectively ? hold entries, and the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase, whose 24 entries include Patsy Hall, Gazza'a Girl, Vic Venturi, Justpourit, Letterman and Chelsea Harbour.