Ten Hold Sway For Durkan Heat

The Listener heads a field of 10 for the John Durkan Punchestown Chase on Sunday.

Robert Alner's grey took the three-mile Lexus Chase at Leopardstown last December and now tries his hand over this shorter trip of two and a half miles at Punchestown.

The Listener will try to make amends after unseating Daryl Jacob at the third fence in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal five weeks ago.

A classy line-up includes 2005 Grand National hero Hedgehunter and Michael O'Brien's Forget The Past, who finished second and third respectively in the 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Arthur Moore's Mansony and Schindlers Hunt, trained by Dessie Hughes, make their seasonal debuts while One Cool Cookie, who finished alone at Down Royal last month, represents Charlie Swan.

Completing the line-up are Father Matt, Hi Cloy, Mister Top Notch and Sher Beau.

The only two horses withdrawn at the final declaration stage were Foreman and Watson Lake.

Michael Hourigan is predicting a bold show from Hi Cloy after the 2005 winner returned to action with a promising run over timber at Aintree last month.

'I had no race to run him in over here with the ground being so quick so we took him to Liverpool and he finished second. He ran very well,' Hourigan told At The Races.

'He's in good form. He needed to run when he did because he was boiling over on me but its just settled him down and I think he'll run a big race on Sunday.'

O'Brien's Forget The Past reappeared this term with an encouraging win at Thurles.

Assistant trainer Denis Cullen said: 'I think it (the trip) will suit him better.

'We haven't always thought he was looking for three miles so we're happy enough over two and a half.'

(C) PA Sport