Spot Thedifference Looking For Cross-Country Repeat

Spot Thedifference is primed for a second assault on the Sporting Index Handicap Chase on the opening day of Cheltenham´s prestigious December Meeting - Friday, December 9 - as he bids to repeat last season´s historic hat-trick of victories in Cheltenham´s three Sporting Index cross-country chases.

Spot Thedifference captured this three mile, seven furlong #22,000-added prize last year under top-weight of 11st 12lb and capped a fine campaign with success in the Sporting Index Handicap Chase in March - the first cross-country race to be staged at The Festival.

The Irish gelding made it four wins from four starts over the course when defeating Lord Jack by two and a half lengths for a second successive triumph in the Sporting Index Chase at The Open earlier this month.

Trainer Enda Bolger reports the 12-year-old, a winner of the La Touche Cup over Punchestown´s banks course in 2004, fit and well ahead of a repeat bid in the Sporting Index Handicap Chase.

The County Limerick trainer said today: 'He´s in good nick. We´re just minding him and pampering him and keeping him happy for the race. He´s in good form and we´re looking forward to it again.

'With horses like this anything can go wrong and anything can happen, but the plan is to go for this race, then give him a break and get him ready for The Festival again.'

Spot Thedifference is at the veteran stage but his recent course and distance success showed that he is far from finished and Bolger is not looking to retire his stable stalwart any time soon.

He continued: 'He´s in such good form with himself that it´s a hard one to call. Obviously, his age is quite a big factor but he´s a horse that looks after himself and he gives himself an easy time in life.'

Bolger´s Bruree, Ireland, yard could field a strong supporting cast in the race.

The trainer said: 'We may also have Shady Lad who ran at Punchestown last week. He was second in the La Touche Cup at Punchestown a couple of times.'

Shady Lad made a pleasing seasonal debut when seventh of 16 in a two and three-quarter mile handicap chase at Punchestown on November 20.

Good Step, winner of this year´s La Touche Cup by half a length from Shady Lad, may also make the Cheltenham line up next month.

The seven-year-old was pulled-up behind Spot Thedifference in the Sporting Index Chase on November 11, on his only attempt at Cheltenham´s cross-country course, but has since finished seventh to stablemate Buailtes And Fadas over two and a quarter miles.

Bolger revealed: 'We might also run Good Step who went at the last Cheltenham meeting. Conor O´Dwyer said his action went that day. He slipped on the bend or something but we gave him a run on Saturday at Gowran Park in a chase and he finished seventh, so he´s fine.'

The Cheltenham December Meeting is staged on Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10, and features the #110,000 Robin Cook Memorial Chase and the #75,000 totesport Bula Hurdle, both of which are run on the Saturday.