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By David Thorpe

The Enda Bolger-trained Spotthedifference will be aiming for yet another victory at Cheltenham when he tackles the banks in the Sporting Index chase on Friday.

Spotthedifference runs in the highly unusual banks races of which there are only a few every year including Friday’s event and contests at the Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals.

The race is over a series of ditches, tyre fences and regular fences similar to a point-to-point course — an area where Limerick trainer Enda Bolger excels.

Spotthedifference has not been beaten in one of these races for more than two years.

A recent victory over all of Friday’s opponents showed that even at 13 the JP McManus-owned gelding is still peerless when it comes to banks races.

Spotthedifference will once again be ridden by top amateur JT McNamara and looks unstoppable in this race — one of the few absolute certainties you will encounter in racing this season.

The Saturday highlight of this meeting is the newly renamed Robin Cook Gold Cup.

In-form Nicky Henderson saddles the likely favourite in the shape of Scotts Grey who will have Mick Fitzgerald in the plate and gets in off an exceedingly generous weight.

This Week’s Horses to Watch…

Huntingdon: Thursday 1pm

TIP: Lamps Return

A decent novice chase at Ludlow last time yielded a second place for Alan King’s horse who really needs to take this one while still on a winning mark.

Huntingdon: Thursday 2pm

TIP: Theatre Night

Graham Lee and Howard Johnson are starting to hit form. They come with plenty of chances of which this fellow might be the best value. If he wins this one he might be worth following for a while.

Cheltenham: Friday 1.55pm

TIP: Spotthedifference

A special horse over the unique banks course. Carries top weight and a lot of years on his shoulders but is much better than anything in training in this type of race and should win. Nap of the week.

Cheltenham: Friday 3.05pm

TIP: Nathos

This is a horse who has somewhat underachieved yet he has now won his last two starts and is on the upgrade. Noel Fehily committed early to taking the ride and is in off a feather weight.

Cheltenham: Saturday 2.40pm

TIP: Lacoudal

This is one of the trickiest races of the season so far to read. Lacoudal gets the nod for having had a couple of recent wins under his belt. A stable in form and a decent weight.

Cheltenham: Saturday 3.20pm

TIP: Faasel

Alan King’s excellent novice of last year makes the step up with the big boys. This horse is possibly Britain’s best Champion hurdle hope but he will have to win here to justify that hype.