Mullins out for gold at Leopardstown

Racing: Willie Mullins expects to be playing for place-money in tomorrow's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Racing:Willie Mullins expects to be playing for place-money in tomorrow's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

The Irish handler fields three of the eight runners in the Grade One feature but believes ante-post favourite The Listener will prove a tough nut to crack.

Mullins' trio is headed by leading Grand National fancy Snowy Morning, who will be having his first start over fences since crashing out early in the Hennessy at Newbury last December.

The eight-year-old has since won twice over hurdles and Mullins is keen to see how he fares back at the highest level.

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"We are having a nice year with him but it may be we have bitten off more than we can chew with tomorrow," he said.

"He's in good form and we will get a good idea of how he rates against Grade One horses tomorrow.

"He's a young horse and I would imagine he would be the best of my three."

Mullins also sends 2006 runner-up Hedgehunter for the race along with 2005 winner Rule Supreme, who returned from a 32-month absence when seventh of eight runners at Thurles last month.

"Hedgehunter will find the drying ground in his favour and I was very pleased with the way he ran at Thurles last time," said Mullins.

"We'd be hopeful of him finishing in the first four or five.

"The drying ground won't be ideal for Rule Supreme.

"He was finishing well last time after being tailed-off at halfway so I was satisfied with his run."

The Listener bids to improve on his Lexus Chase third for Robert and Sally Alner, and Mullins believes the John Durkan Chase winner is a deserved market leader.

"I think The Listener will be hard to beat on the form he has shown this year but as long as all three come back safe, I'll be happy and hopefully we can pick up some prize money," he added.