Sporting rivals fear Auclair

Enda Bolger believes class act Royal Auclair could be the one to foil Spot The difference's attempt to win the Sporting Index Chase for the third year running at Cheltenham tomorrow.

The Irish trainer has his 13-year-old veteran in fine shape for his hat-trick bid in the marathon cross-country race, but accepts that Paul Nicholls' smart chaser merits the utmost respect.

"Spot Thedifference is in good form and he'll like the ground but we're very scared of Royal Auclair - he looks the class horse in the race," said the County Limerick handler.

"Anyway, we're going to take him on. There's three miles and seven furlongs to go and 30 fences to jump, so you never what's going to happen.

"He doesn't look his age and he's in good nick."

Bolger also saddles Buailtes And Fadas, who finished one place behind his stablemate when third to Native Jack in the cross-country race at the Festival in March.

"He's in good form as well. He ran well at the Festival here to finish third. Again, he's not a very highly-rated horse under normal steeplechasing rules but he's a good cross-country horse," he explained.

"I'm hopeful, but obviously Royal Auclair is the class horse and he's the one to beat."

Ferdy Murphy is responsible for course and distance winner Ivoire de Beaulieu but confesses he also fears the Nicholls raider.

"He's very well but we could have done with a bit more rain. I shall walk the course early in the morning but I think it will be all right to run. It's an interesting race," said the West Witton handler.

"The French horse (Plum'tee) looks good but if Royal Auclair takes to it then it's going to be very difficult as we are all about 20lb wrong with him.

"Our horse is straight enough although he's not run since Christmas. We've done plenty with him but he'll come on for the run like all ours do.

"He'll be straighter than when he won down there the last time. Being a cross-country horse we've done plenty of other things with him. It's a funny race as they only really race for the last mile or so."

French trainer Guillaume Macaire is hoping that Plum'tee adapts to the cross-country fences.

"He's a nice horse but he's had bad legs. He's got a good engine and does not have many miles on the clock. He's in good form at the moment and his legs are solid at this stage," he said.

"This is a good opportunity to try this type of race, but it's difficult with this horse as I can't always work him when I want because of his legs. If he had good legs he would have won more nice races in France.

"It will be the first time he has run over such a long trip but I don't think it will be problem for him.

"If he goes okay there is another back there in a month's time and there's one at the Festival in March."

"There was a race on Sunday over here that he could win but this is a good opportunity for him."

There are a total of six Irish runners in the 14-strong line-up, including Native Jack.