14-Year-Old Spot Makes History

The 14-year-old Spot Thedifference returned to a hero´s welcome at Punchestown this afternoon after landing the Avon Ri Corporate & Leisure Resort Chase for the La Touche Cup under 12st 7lb and give trainer Enda Bolger an historic tenth successive victory in the famous race.

After stablemate Moyglass set a strong gallop under Conor O´Dwyer, jockey John Thomas McNamara waited patiently on Spot Thedifference before eventually hitting the front after Ruby´s Double second time round. Bolger´s third runner, Freneys Well, stayed on to finish second, four and a half lengths behind the winner.

'He´s a just a brilliant horse,' said Bolger. 'You can only just be hopeful beforehand as it´s a novelty race where anything can happen. Stamina is his thing and he had a good man on his back today.

'It was a searching gallop but four miles and two takes a lot of getting at Punchestown and the banks slow them down here. His forte is his finish but I didn´t want him to get too detached - I was a little worried for a minute that he was further back than we wanted - Conor did his job but I didn´t expect him to go that fast! It was great that Nina was second but Today was all about Spot.

'I´m lucky that I have J P (McManus) backing me and I can do what I like. Having John Thomas and Nina riding for me also makes things easy.'

When asked about retiring the winner, Bolger added: 'We´ll have a look over the summer. He´s 14 but he enjoys life, loves being in training and loves human beings - except the vet.'

Owner J P McManus added: 'I´ve had him since he was five and I´m just lucky to have him - he´s in grand hands. I´ll leave any decision on his retirement to Enda.

'For a 14-year-old to win and give the younger brigade a stone was some achievement. John Thomas knows him so well and persevered. The horse enjoyed it out there and loved the ovation he got. It´s been a very special day and I´m just pleased to have been part of it.

'I suppose the purists would find it hard to believe but I´m as happy to win the La Touche as any race at the Festival.'

John Thomas McNamara, who has now won four La Touche Cups, said: 'They went very fast early on and this ground is a bit quick for him, but as we all know, Spot comes home. He seems to know when he´s getting near the winning pole.

'He´s getting better with age, like a good wine. I´ve been lucky to ride some very good horses, but I´ve got a soft spot for Spot. He´s unreal, and he deserved a fantastic reception, but he´s a very popular horse.'

There was another popular success in the opening KFM Hunters Chase for the Bishopscourt Cup when Lord Killucan justified 11/10 favouritism to score from the front for jockey Robbie McNamara and owners Valerie and John Osborne, whose Tipper House Stud is based close to the racecourse.

'He jumps well and stays so we thought there was no point in waiting around,' said winning trainer Michael Halford. 'John and Valerie´s farm adjoins the track and John made the plan before Christmas to go for a point-to-point then come here. Luckily it worked out, we just prayed for a bit of decent ground.

'He´s the only point-to-pointer I have and I think I´ll have to ask Enda Bolger what to do from here on - I´m lost! Robbie thinks a nice bit of the horse and he could come back here for the banks races.'

The Avon Ri Corporate & Leisure Resort Cross Country Chase For The La Touche Cup (Bank/Chase Course), 4m 2f, ?40,000 (Euros), Thursday, April 26, 2007 - Enda Bolger's 10 winners

Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP

2007 Spot Thedifference 14-12-07 J P McManus Enda Bolger Mr J T McNamara 7/4 Fav

2006 Good Step 8-12-07 J P McManus Enda Bolger Miss Nina Carberry 11/2

2005 Good Step 7-12-03 J P McManus Enda Bolger Mr J T McNamara 11/2

2004 Spot Thedifference 11-11-07 J P McManus Enda Bolger Mr J T McNamara 3/1

2003 Buailtes And Fadas 8-11-12 J P McManus Enda Bolger Conor O´Dwyer 8/1

2002 Risk Of Thunder 13-11-12 Sean Connery Enda Bolger Mr J T McNamara 9/4 Fav

2001 No race

2000 Risk Of Thunder 11-12-07 Sean Connery Enda Bolger Ken Whelan 2/7 Fav

1999 Risk Of Thunder 10-12-07 Sean Connery Enda Bolger Mr Enda Bolger 4/5 Fav

1998 Risk Of Thunder 9-12-07 Sean Connery Enda Bolger Mr Enda Bolger 11/10 Fav

1997 Risk Of Thunder 8-12-07 Sean Connery Enda Bolger Mr Enda Bolger 4/9 Fav