No Difference To Cheltenham Spoils

Cross-country specialist Spot Thedifference defied his rising years to take the Sporting Index Steeple Chase on the first day of Cheltenham´s Open meeting.

The unique turns and obstacles might not be to everybody´s taste, but they certainly appeal to the Enda Bolger-trained 12-year-old, who won all three events staged here last season.

Sent off the 13-8 favourite, he started the new campaign as he did the last when scoring by two and a half lengths from Lord Jack under regular pilot JT McNamara.

'I am so proud of him and absolutely delighted,' said Bolger.

'The plan will be to come back here in December and then for the cross-country race at the Festival - just like last year.

'You take nothing for granted in racing but he is a grand old guy who looks after himself and he seems to be thriving on the hype.

'He might be rising 13 but he just comes alive here and JT gave him a brilliant ride too.'

Having raced off level weights here, Lord Jack - who has an official chasing mark 9lb lower than the winner - should have a decent chance of reversing the form when the pair line up for the next cross-country race, a handicap.

'If the handicapper does his job then we´ll be getting plenty of weight,' said trainer Nicky Richards.

'Mr (Trevor) Hemmings asked me to find a horse to run in these races and Lord Jack is a very game horse who can perform over hurdles, fences and this track.'

Lord Jack´s rider Brian Harding enjoyed a good day at the office, having earlier brought Bold Bishop with a withering late run to take the Beards Jewellers Cup.

Always a fiercely-contested affair over two miles, this year´s renewal proved no exception as pacesetter Made In Japan set a fierce gallop on his seasonal bow which soon had the field stretched out.

Rounding the home turn it seemed as if the 14-1 chance might hold on but he started to fold on the run for home as his rivals closed in.

Irish runner Tiger Cry joined the leader over the final fence, but having been in front for only a matter of his strides he was in turn gathered up by Bold Bishop.

Harding´s mount had been adrift in seventh and seemingly struggling over the second-last fence, but he picked up steadily down the outside in the final stages.

Finding more in front than he has done in the past, the 8-1 winner kept on to beat Tiger Cry by two and a half lengths, with Made in Japan holding Tysou for third.

'We thought he was a really good horse a couple of years back but his problems have been in his head,' said trainer Jonjo O´Neill.

'He is just a bit soft and that´s the disappointing thing because he has ability.

'But if he keeps coming along and wins the odd one we´ll forgive him!'

Harding, an old friend of O´Neill from his hunting days, came in for the ride with stable jockey Tony McCoy unable to do the weight of 10st.

Boychuk produced a decisive late flourish to lift the opening Grade Two Anglo Irish Bank Novices´ Hurdle for Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson.

A good leap from Buena Vista looked to have sealed matters for the 9-4 favourite but Johnson switched Boychuk to the outside and he found a telling turn of foot.

Boychuk (8-1) was two lengths clear of the Martin Pipe-trained Buena Vista at the line, with Two Miles West plugging on for third, a further two and a half lengths in arrears.

Hobbs said: 'He´s very, very athletic. The first time he won at Exeter he was very green but he jumped much better the next time.

'He found a lot from the home bend and with a run like that you would have to begin to think about organising him for the Festival now.'

Pipe´s favoured front-running tactics may have narrowly failed to come off in the opener, but the trainer rarely remains without a winner for long at this fixture.

And the stable were celebrating after Getoutwhenyoucan made all to take the following paddypower.com Amateur Riders´ Handicap Chase under Robert Quinn.

The grey gelding was sent off the 5-2 favourite and although he tired in the closing stages, by then his rivals were already treading water and he galloped on up the hill to beat Bee An Bee by nine lengths.

Pipe was fancied to complete a double when Celtic Son went off at 8-13 to follow up his impressive fencing debut by taking the Steel Plate and Sections Novices´ Chase.

But although Timmy Murphy´s mount jumped well, he failed to quicken up the hill and was unable to reach front-running 12-1 chance Church Island, who gave the travelling Irish punters something to cheer about as he triumphed in the colours of Beef or Salmon.

Church Island´s trainer Michael Hourigan was represented by his son, Michael jnr, who indicated a return trip next March would be in order for the winner.

He said: 'We had doubts about Celtic Son staying today. We came for a feel on the track as it is hard for a horse to come here for the first time at the Festival.'

Celtic Son, having been as short as 7-1 with Ladbrokes for next March´s Royal & SunAlliance Chase was pushed out to twice those odds by the same firm, while Church Island is a best-priced 20-1 for the race with Coral.

A downcast Pipe said of the runner-up: 'He jumped well but that´s probably as good as he is. Maybe we will go back in trip with him but he has won over three miles before.'

The closing conditionals´ race fell to 50-1 outsider Water King, who provided trainer Robert Stronge with a welcome first winner of the season.

? PA Sport