tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, no extra and dropped to rear after 3 out, weakened, completely tailed off
towards rear, no impression in 6th entering straight, moderate 4th last, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and dropped to rear before 2 out, no extra
towards rear, progress into 3rd 2 out, no impression on winner in 2nd before last, kept on one pace
tracked leader, ran freely, 2nd halfway, disputed briefly and not fluent 3 out, no impression on winner early straight and 3rd before last, no extra run-in
chased leaders, 5th and not fluent 5th, no extra in 7th 2 out, weakened, pulled up before last
chased leaders, 7th halfway, some progress into 4th after 2 out, no extra early straight
made virtually all, joined briefly 3 out, asserted early straight and 5 lengths clear before last, kept on well run-in
chased leaders, 6th halfway, progress into 3rd after 3 out, no extra enter straight, weakened, tailed off
This has proved to be a brilliant Cheltenham trial in the past and is likely to be so again. Willie Mullins has four entries and, as we saw with McKinley in a Naas Grade 1 last time, it's far from rare when a second or even third string take the honours. This time it's ALVISIO VILLE who is likely to start a short price after his demolition job on Baily Cloud here on St Stephen's Day and he's been well supported for the Festival. A line through the runner-up appears to give him the edge over Nichols Canyon but Sempre Medici is a bit of an unknown as he probably bumped into something useful in Jollyalan at Kempton. The remainder all have useful form to their name and nothing is ruled out completely.
Blair Perrone (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) In rear, slight mistake 6th, pushed along after 2 out, no impression and kept on same pace from before last, 5th of 6, 16l behind Douvan (11-0) at Punchestown 2m nov hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Silver Concorde 1-3fav (11-12) Chased leader in 2nd, disputed briefly 4th, slightly hampered and stumbled 3 out, improved to lead entering straight, ridden and pressed when mistake last, headed run-in and no extra, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Blair Perrone (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m mdn hdl hvy in Dec.
Sub Lieutenant (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Chased leaders in 3rd, left 2nd after 3rd, ridden entering straight, under pressure in 3rd before last where slight mistake, kept on again run-in to 2nd closing stages, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Sizing John (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) hvy in Dec.
Windsor Park (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Slowly into stride and held up in rear, close enough 6th 3 out, ridden after 2 out, 5th entering straight, kept on without threatening to go 4th after last, 4th of 7, 5l behind Outlander (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) in Jan.
Alvisio Ville (FR) 1-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, raced in 6th early, slightly slow 4th, closer in 2nd traveliling smoothly approaching straight, soon led, clear last, pushed out and stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m 4yo mdn hdl in Dec beating Baily Cloud (11-7) by 6l, 12 ran.
Identity Thief (IRE) 7-4 (11-7) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 2 out, travelled well to lead early straight, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f 4yo mdn hdl sft in Dec beating Snow Falcon (11-7) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Mckinley 33-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, 3rd 4 out, 4th briefly entering straight, progress into 3rd and ridden 2 out, went 2nd before last, stayed on well run-in to lead close home, won at Naas 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan beating Tell Us More (11-10) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Nichols Canyon 4-6fav (11-7) Settled 4th, bad mistake and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Sizing John (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) hvy in Dec, 5 ran.
Sempre Medici (FR) 7-2 (11-8) Held up in touch, headway halfway, hit 5th, went second approaching 2out, switched right and effort after 2out, driven and 1l down when blundered last, kept on, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Jollyallan (11-8) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (2) gs in Dec.
