DAVY Russell’s cunning ground-saving manoeuvre aboard Dix Villez denied Enda Bolger a fifth consecutive success in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on a theatrical first afternoon of Cheltenham’s Open meeting yesterday.

HE may be rising 14 years old, but Spot Thedifference shows no signs of slowing and landed his fifth success over the cross-country course in the Sporting Index Chase on the first day of Cheltenham’s Open meeting.

Ruby Walsh was in the wars at Navan following a fall from McGruders Cross in the Leinster Petroleum European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase.

CORAL have reported a significant market plunge for the Martin Pipe-trained Comply Or Die in Saturday’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

CROSS-COUNTRY specialist Spot Thedifference defied his rising years to take the Sporting Index Steeple Chase on the first day of Cheltenham’s Open meeting yesterday.

Beef Or Salmon will miss Saturday’s National Lottery Agent Champion Chase at Gowran Park due to fast ground and will instead run on the Flat in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh a day later.

Beef Or Salmon will miss Saturday’s National Lottery Agent Champion Chase at Gowran Park due to fast ground and will instead run on the Flat in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh a day later.

Nicky Henderson has given Irish Hussar the go ahead to run in Saturday’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury and is to school the leading fancy in Lambourn tomorrow.

SWANSEA BAY extended his unbeaten sequence to four this season with another cracking performance under Andrew Thornton in the £50,000 Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase at Haydock Park yesterday.

Barry Connell’s boyhood dream came true as he rode The Posh Paddy to victory in the final race of Cheltenham’s Open meeting this afternoon.

Mick Fitzgerald escaped serious injury in a horror fall at Newbury today.