He may be rising 14 years old, but Spot Thedifference landed his fifth success over the cross-country course in the Sporting Index Chase at Cheltenham yesterday.
Owned by JP McManus and trained by Enda Bolger, the veteran was allowed to go off at 5 to 1 despite successes in the race in 2004 and 2005. JT McNamara's mount cruised through the race with more fluency than normal and produced his usual charge towards the line to beat Star Performance by a length.
McManus said: "That was pretty exciting and JT said he travelled better today than when he won this race in the past - he must be getting better with age."
The winner's stablemate, Buailtes And Fadas, finished third but collapsed and died moments later. Bolger enjoyed better fortune in the opening race when Darby Wall made amends for a fall at the previous meeting by battling to success under McNamara to beat No Guarantees by a neck in the paddypower.com Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase.
Moon over Miami produced an impressive turn of foot to capture the Grade Two Anglo Irish Private Banking Novices' Hurdle.
Tom Taaffe's War General, who collapsed and died after the race, looked to have seen off his only danger in the shape of Mill House Girl after jumping the last, but Moon Over Miami came with a withering run to foil the grey.
Standin Obligation was cut from 20 to 1 to 10 to 1 for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase after the David Pipe-trained seven-year-old made virtually all in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase. Rubberdubber continued on an upward curve when taking his third race over fences in the Beards Jewellers Cup under an astute ride from Tony McCoy.
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