Listener sparkles in Champion Chase

The Listener produced a terrific front-running performance to land the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

The complexion of the contest changed when 1/1 favourite Notre Pere crashed out at the fifth last.

He had just moved upsides The Listener when getting it all wrong. Andrew McNamara was left in isolation aboard the grey and never had a moments worry afterwards.

He conjured a terrific leap from the Roselier gelding at the third last and the pair soon stretched clear of their rivals. My Will gave chase but could only get within 15-lengths of the Nick Mitchell-trained ten-year-old.

"He always wins his races when he gets an easy lead in heavy ground," said Mitchell

"Andrew said he was basically cantering until he gave him a squeeze three out.

"The ground is essential for him. Andrew came down to school him 10 days ago and I said to him that I hope he gets the chance to ride him on heavy ground as he's a different horse.

"We'll probably come back here for the John Durkan at Punchestown. We come here to get the Irish ground.

"You don't get that ground at the Grade One tracks in England with the way the drainage is.

"I wouldn't be here but for the horse. He had such a difficult year last year. He only started to get some form back at Punchestown after a nasty fall at Leopardstown."

Mitchell also had a word for the connections of Notre Pere:-

"It happens to all horse. Notre Pere will come back. He's a great horse and one of my favourite in training."

“That was like a different horse to the fellow I rode twice last year," said McNamara afterwards.

"He was standing off half a mile from fences and I said if you want to do it then do it. I gave him a squeeze at one fence and he put down and after that I left him alone.

"He put in a great round of jumping. I went over to Nick’s and sat on him twice but you couldn’t tell much from that. Nick was confident that he was back to his best.

"I saw Notre Pere beside me when he fell, I was quite happy at the time but I felt that Andrew Lynch was quite happy at the time, he seemed to be travelling equally as well as me at that stage but it was a long way home and who knows what might have happened.

"I’m not sure the Gold Cup suits him as well as the likes of Leopardstown or this place. He loves a big galloping track and heavy ground and they just aren’t things you get at Cheltenham.

"Conditions there just don’t suit him quite as much. I’d say there will be two days at Leopardstown for him whatever happens.”

My Will couldn't match the winner and jockey Christian Williams said afterwards:-

"He's very genuine and ran great. He handled the ground well and that will pay his training fees for most of the year."