Listener reported fine after Hennessy success The Listener is reported to be in fine shape following his emotional victory in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown yesterday. His five-and-a-length win over the Paul Nicholls-trained Turko not only gave Britain their first win in the race for 13 years but provided yet another tonic for trainer Robert Alner. The Dorset handler remains in hospital in Bristol having been seriously injured in a car crash three months ago - during which time his wife Sally, who now officially shares the licence, and assistant trainer Nick Mitchell have continued to churn out the winners. Connections must now choose between the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Ryanair Chase as the grey´s Festival target. Mitchell said: "He only got the ferry at 7am. Both him and Turko seem fine. "It was a fantastic day. He has got that little bit of toe for two-and-a-half miles but we always knew he would see a good three (miles) out. "I´m still a bit dubious about the three-mile-two at Cheltenham and we´ve now got a big decision to make with the owner. "With the big two (Kauto Star and Denman) in the Gold Cup there is the possibility of the race cutting up and there´s a lot of prize-money to be had there." The Listener is already a winner over the Ryanair distance of two miles and five furlongs at Cheltenham, having won the "Dipper" Chase as a novice in January 2006. "He gave Star De Mohaison the best part of a stone that day," reflected Mitchell.
