Cheltenham reportCross-country specialist Spot Thedifference defied his rising years to take the Sporting Index Chase on the first day of Cheltenham's Open meeting.

The unique turns and obstacles might not be to everybody's taste, but they certainly appeal to the Enda Bolger-trained 12-year-old, who won all three events staged here last season.

Sent off the 13 to 8 favourite, he started the new campaign as he did the last when scoring by two and a half lengths from Lord Jack under regular pilot JT McNamara.

"I am so proud of him and absolutely delighted," said Bolger.

"The plan will be to come back here in December and then for the cross-country race at the Festival - just like last year.

"He might be rising 13 but he just comes alive here and JT gave him a brilliant ride too."

Having raced off level weights here, Lord Jack - who has an official chasing mark 9lb lower than the winner - should have a decent chance of reversing the form when the pair line up for the next cross-country race, a handicap.

"If the handicapper does his job then we'll be getting plenty of weight," said trainer Nicky Richards.

Lord Jack's rider Brian Harding enjoyed a good day at the office, having earlier brought Bold Bishop with a withering late run to take the Beards Jewellers Cup.

Always a fiercely-contested affair over two miles, this year's renewal proved no exception as pacesetter Made In Japan set a fierce gallop on his seasonal bow which soon had the field stretched out.

Rounding the home turn it seemed as if the 14 to 1 chance might hold on but he started to fold on the run for home as his rivals closed in.

Irish runner Tiger Cry joined the leader over the final fence, but having been in front for only a matter of his strides he was in turn gathered up by Bold Bishop.

Harding's mount had been adrift in seventh and seemingly struggling over the second-last fence, but he picked up steadily down the outside in the final stages.

Finding more in front than he has done in the past, the 8 to 1 winner kept on to beat Tiger Cry by two and a half lengths, with Made in Japan holding Tysou for third.

Boychuk produced a decisive late flourish to lift the opening Grade Two Anglo Irish Bank Novices' Hurdle for Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson.

A good leap from Buena Vista looked to have sealed matters for the 9 to 4 favourite but Johnson switched Boychuk to the outside and he found a telling turn of foot.

Boychuk (8 to 1) was two lengths clear of the Martin Pipe-trained Buena Vista at the line, with Two Miles West plugging on for third, a further two and a half lengths in arrears.

Hobbs said: "He's very, very athletic. The first time he won at Exeter he was very green but he jumped much better the next time.

"He found a lot from the home bend and with a run like that you would have to begin to think about organising him for the Festival now."

Pipe's favoured front-running tactics may have narrowly failed to come off in the opener, but the trainer rarely remains without a winner for long at this fixture.

And the stable were celebrating after Getoutwhenyoucan made all to take the following paddypower.com Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase under Robert Quinn.

The grey gelding was sent off the 5 to 2 favourite and although he tired in the closing stages, by then his rivals were already treading water and he galloped on up the hill to beat Bee An Bee by nine lengths.

Pipe was fancied to complete a double when Celtic Son went off at 8 to 13 to follow up his impressive fencing debut by taking the Steel Plate and Sections Novices' Chase.

But although Timmy Murphy's mount jumped well, he failed to quicken up the hill and was unable to reach front-running 12 to 1 chance Church Island, who gave the travelling Irish punters something to cheer about as he triumphed in the colours of Beef Or Salmon.

Church Island's trainer Michael Hourigan was represented by his son, Michael jnr, who indicated a return trip next March would be in order for the winner.

Celtic Son, having been as short as 7 to 1 with Ladbrokes for next March's Royal and SunAlliance Chase was pushed out to twice those odds by the same firm, while Church Island is a best-priced 20 to 1 for the race with Coral.