tracked leaders, led 2 out, headed just after last, kept on same pace towards finish
tracked leader, led 3rd, headed after 3 out, weakened next
held up in rear but in touch, fell 7th
led until 3rd, remained prominent, led again after 3rd last, headed next, soon lost place
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, stayed on strongly to go 2nd closing stages, nearest finish
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 2 out, led just after last, hard driven, kept on well
O'Faolains Boy won this en route to landing the RSA Chase two years ago so this is a bona-fide Cheltenham trial. DRUMACOO (NAP) looked a very smart prospect when winning easily on his chasing debut and first run for Ben Pauling at Huntingdon. He beat Fletchers Flyer far more readily than Onenightinvienna had at Exeter in November and the latter was a shade disappointing when beaten by Local Show at Kempton last month. Vyta Du Roc's first two runs over fences were over shorter trips but he was second to Thistlecrack over 3m over hurdles at Aintree last year so there are no stamina reservations. He could be useful once he gets his jumping together but Minella Rocco continues to be let down by his technique while Ballyalton's Market Rasen conqueror Aso has been beaten since. Le Mercurey looks to be facing a stiff task conceding weight all round.
Le Mercurey (FR) 6-1fav (10-9) Held up mid-division, pushed along 11th, lost place next, pulled up before 3 out, at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Onenightinvienna (IRE) 10-11fav (11-6) Jumped well, tracked winner, pushed along after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, rallied last, kept on and every chance flat, just held, 2nd of 4, hd behind Local Show (11-6) at Kempton 3m (4) sft in Jan.
Ballyalton (IRE) 11-4 (10-10) In rear, headway 4 out, chased winner before 3 out, kept on and always held run-in, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Aso (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 5f (2) sft in Jan.
Drumacoo (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Pressed leader, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, easily, won at Huntingdon 3m (4) sft in Jan beating Fletchers Flyer (11-0) by dist, 5 ran.
Minella Rocco (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 11th, well beaten from next, 6th of 7, dist behind Seeyouatmidnight (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) hvy in Jan.
Vyta Du Roc (FR) 2-5fav (11-4) In touch in 4th, went 2nd from 6th, led before 3 out, headed last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Bouvreuil (10-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) sft in Jan.
