Jim Dreaper is looking forward to getting started with stable star Notre Pere in Saturday's JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.
Progressive chaser heads eight-strong line-up at Down Royal
Jim Dreaper is looking forward to getting started with stable star Notre Pere in Saturday's JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.
The eight-year-old progressed rapidly last season, winning the Welsh National at Chepstow before rounding off the campaign with an impressive display in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup.
And although the trainer believes his charge prefers to go left handed the Punchestown victory showed it is not much of a hindrance.
"He's fine and in good form and we're looking forward to getting started with him," said Dreaper.
"The ground should be fine for him and maybe ideally he's more effective going to the left. It's not a major problem but he just leans a bit to the left all the time.
Improve
"He's straight enough to run but he is a lazy, relaxed big horse, so hopefully the run will improve him a good deal.
"I just want to get him going, get the run under his belt and see where we go. Hopefully he'll run a good race."
The Listener heads a three-strong challenge from Britain but Nick Mitchell's grey has failed to get his head in front since February 2008, trailing home behind Kauto Star 12 months ago.
"He seems in good form at the moment and the horses just weren't right last year," said Mitchell. "We made a few changes last spring and they have been running much better this year, so hopefully he can show some of that old spark.
"He looks and feels like he retains plenty of enthusiasm and plenty of ability, so we can only keep our fingers crossed that he puts up a good show.
"Conditions-wise we can't make any excuses as they are in his favour, but that does mean they are in Notre Pere's favour as well.
Good form
"Our horse always comes on for his first run so he'll need it a bit, but hopefully not too much.
"We just want to see him run a nice race and hopefully we'll see what we've got."
Joe Lively makes his return after suffering an injury in February and trainer Colin Tizzard is expecting a decent performance.
"He's arrived there in good form and had a canter on the course this morning, so we're looking forward to it," said Tizzard.
"The injury he got was mainly superficial and he has been back in four months.
He's had a racecourse gallop and likes soft ground so if he runs anywhere near his mark of 165, he must have a good chance.
"It's a classy little race but we expected it to be and he is in good nick. We haven't left too much to chance."
Paul Nicholls is responsible for My Will, while the home team is also represented by War Of Attrition, Casey Jones, Trotsky and the former Nicholls-trained Natal.
