Tips on the 16:40 Sporting Index Handicap Chase

It would be nice to see Spot The difference 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.