always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 20f
chased leader, not fluent 9th, blundered at 11th, lost 2nd 14th, stayed prominent, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 14th, led 21st, headed last, one pace flat
held up, towards rear, headway 24th, weakened soon after 3 out
always prominent, went 2nd 4 out, led last, kept on strongly flat
prominent, improving when unseated rider 18th
mid-division, lost touch 10th, tailed off
always behind
led until headed 21st, weakened 4 out
always behind, tailed off when mistake 13th
held up, headway from 16th, chased leaders 4 out, one pace from next
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, ridden 25th, soon lost place
always in touch, challenged 25th, mistake 27th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
always behind, no chance when mistake 28th
Course specialist Spot Thedifference is the one to beat again in this unique contest, with stablemate Good Step, Oh My Lord and L'Aventure expected to give him most to do. The term horses for courses can certainly be applied to Spot Thedifference who lines unbeaten in three attempts over the winding 31 furlong marathon. Successful in this very event 12 months ago, Enda Bolger's star returned to score again in December and at the Festival in March. He is a classic hold-up performer who sometimes gives the impression that he is not going to get there in time, but he invariably does, and will no doubt do so again today under J T McNamara who has ridden him to each of his three successes here in the past. He will strip fitter for a run out over hurdles at Clonmel last month and there should be no excuses. When the selection eventually retires, Bolger has a ready-made substitute in Good Step who provided him with an incredible eighth victory in the La Touche at Punchestown in April and is just the sort for this type of event. He should go well along with fellow Irish raider Oh My Lord who has more to offer than we have seen so far. L'Aventure is an out-and-out stayer, and this course may liven her up, but not enough to stop Spot Thedifference from collecting yet again.
Good Step (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Towards rear, ridden and kept on without threatening from 3 out, 9th of 18, 39l behind Vic Venturi (11-0) at Galway 2m 4f nov hdl sft in Oct.
Il de Boitron (FR) 4th of 14, 10l behind Davids Lad at Punchestown Pts 3m ptp sft in Apr.
Lord Jack (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Led to 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 9, 21l behind Jorobaden (11-9) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) sft in Oct.
Luzcadou (FR) (10-8) Tailed off when refused at the 25th in race won by Maskul (10-8) at Pardubice 4m 2f crs cty chs gd in Oct, 16 ran.
Spot Thedifference (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Towards rear for most, never a factor, 9th of 20, 30l behind A New Story (10-7) at Clonmel 3m hcp hdl 0-116 sft in Oct.
Grumpy Stumpy 3-1fav (11-11) Led, mistake 2nd, headed 3rd, led again 8th to 13th, weakened before next, tailed off, 4th of 16, well behind Anflora (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (F) sft in Oct.
Native Ray (IRE) Pulled up in race won by Sober Performance at Templemore 3m ire ptp hvy in Oct, 10 ran.
Wildfield Rufo (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, struggling from 15th, 5th of 6, 7l behind Croc An Oir (11-11) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gf in Oct.
Happy Hussar (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Made most to 4th, tracked leader, led again 12th to 15th, weakened next, 5th of 9, 6l behind Darby Wall (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (E) gd in Oct.
Multi Talented (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Behind from 4th, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Joint Authority (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in May.
Oh My Lord (IRE) 13-8fav (11-4) Held up, not fluent 15th, headway 18th, ridden 4 out, chased winner from 2 out, held when blundered after last, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Regal Vision (9-9) at Ludlow 3m 1f amt hcp chs 0-100 (F) gf in Oct.
Pardini (USA) 14-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders until weakened 4 out, 6th of 8, 23l behind Stormy Skye (10-2) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Oct.
L'Aventure (FR) 5-1 (10-2) Chased leader to 7th, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off, 6th of 9, well behind Standin Obligation (10-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (B) sft in Oct.
Historg (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Ossmoses (10-13) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (C) sft in Feb, 9 ran.
