held up in rear, steady headway into mid-division 16th, close up when blundered 27th, no impression from 3 out
tracked leader, led 23rd until blundered next, stayed prominent, until weakened 4 out
mid-division, headway, went 2nd at 27th, chased winner approaching last, kept on as winner idled flat
blundered 21st, always in rear
chased leaders in 3rd, led 27th, driven, headed well before last, no impression when lost 2nd approaching last
reluctant in rear, tried to refuse at 20th, pulled up before next
always in rear
always behind, struggling 24th, tailed off
mid-division, behind 19th, pulled up 2 out
towards rear when unseated rider 13th
chased leaders, pecked 11th, tracked leading pair going well from 30th, led well before last, idled flat, driven out
towards rear, mistake 23rd, plugged on at one pace from 4 out
towards rear, no real impression from 4 out
led until headed 23rd, regained lead next, blundered, headed 27th, chased leaders until weakened 30th
chased leaders early until behind from 19th
always in rear
It would be nice to see Spot Thedifference win this race one more time, and the old boy is taken see off the challenge of stablemate Heads Onthe Ground, with Silver Birch, Royal Auclair and L'Aventure all worth a mention. The ability to act round this unique course is just as important as the weights, and so although Heads Onthe Ground is a pound better off with his older stablemate for the two-and-a quarter lengths that separated them here in November, it is Spot Thedifference that gets the nod. Successful in the first running of this event in 2005, Enda Bolger's veteran made a bold bid to follow up 12 months ago, going down by two-lengths to Native Jack. He has been kept sweet for what could be his swansong, and there will be no bigger cheer from the Irish if he does storm home up the hill again. Heads Onthe Ground will take over the mantle from his more illustrious rival one day, and indeed he did look impressive when beating two of today's rivals, Silver Birch and Never Compromise at Punchestown in February. Silver Birch, winner of the 2004 Welsh National for Paul Nicholls, is to be aimed at the Aintree Grand National by Gordon Elliot, and is expected to go well. Also National-bound is Royal Auclair who has run in the last two Cheltenham Gold Cups. He gives the Nicholls camp quite a strong hand here, with Le Duc and the mare L'Aventure also in the line-up. The latter stayed on well in testing ground behind Heltornic at Haydock recently, and if she takes to the obstacles here, may be placed at the very least. Ivoire De Beaulieu has won over track-and-trip in the past, but has yet to show his old sparkle in two outings this term. It is hard to get enthusiastic about anything else, and so, although the young pretenders are queueing up, we shall take Spot The Difference to produce one last hurrah on a course he loves so much.
Spot Thedifference (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Led 3rd until 6th, tracked leaders, led 25th until hit 27th, led approaching last, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty hcp chs (2) sft in Dec beating Plum'tee (10-4) by 1l, 12 ran.
Royal Auclair (FR) 40-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, led 6th until after 2 out, kept on, not pace of leading pair, 3rd of 6, 14l behind Kauto Star (11-10) at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Silver Birch (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Rear of mid-division, progress from before 3 out, moderate 5th approaching straight, kept on without threatening, 4th of 12, 8l behind Wheresben (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl hvy in Feb.
Native Jack (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Mid-division, 9th 3 out, no impression from before next, one pace, 6th of 23, 36l behind Heads Onthe Ground (11-4) at Punchestown 3m crs cty chs sft in Feb.
Le Duc (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Held up, low jump 18th, stumbled 21st, headway 25th, effort after 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 3l behind Spot Thedifference (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty hcp chs (2) sft in Dec.
L'Aventure (FR) 14-1 (10-1) In touch, not fluent 7th, behind 9th, stayed on well after last, not reach winner, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Heltornic (10-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Ivoire De Beaulieu (FR) 5-1 (11-1) Held up behind, mistake 6th, short lived efforts 27th, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 36l behind Spot Thedifference (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty hcp chs (2) sft in Dec.
Marcus Du Berlais (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, dropped to 10th 5 out, ridden and kept on one pace from before 2 out, 5th of 23, 32l behind Heads Onthe Ground (11-4) at Punchestown 3m crs cty chs sft in Feb.
Star Performance (IRE) 9-1 (10-1) Held up, headway 4 out, in 4th when hampered 2 out, stayed on, 5th of 20, 12l behind I Hear Thunder (11-2) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Tyssac (FR) (10-12) Unseated rider 4th behind Mioutou (10-3) at Pau 2m 2f chs hvy in Dec, 18 ran.
Heads Onthe Ground (IRE) 3-1fav (11-4) Always prominent, 2nd 5 out, led before 2 out, clear before last, stayed on well, won at Punchestown 3m crs cty chs sft in Feb beating Silver Birch (11-4) by 10l, 23 ran.
Omni Cosmo Touch (USA) 12-1 (11-8) Held up, outpaced 12th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Heltornic (11-1) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb, 7 ran.
Florida Dream (IRE) 12-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, weakening when blundered 17th, 12th of 18, 35l behind Rambling Minster (10-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Never Compromise (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Led, joined 6th, led again from 9th, strongly pressed 3 out, headed and dropped to 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 23, 25l behind Heads Onthe Ground (11-4) at Punchestown 3m crs cty chs sft in Feb.
Il de Boitron (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Prominent to halfway, no extra from 5 out, 12th of 23, well behind Heads Onthe Ground (11-4) at Punchestown 3m crs cty chs sft in Feb.
Hever Road (IRE) 10-1 (12-7) Prom til lost plce 12; lft poor 2nd 2 out, 2nd of 9, 20l behind Ifni du Luc (11-7) at Bangor Points 3m ptp gd in Feb.
