led, jumped big 1st, pushed along after 3 out, jumped left next, strongly pressed before last, ridden and headed narrowly final 150 yards, kept on, no impression in 3rd closing stages
in touch in rear, not fluent 5th and 7th, 3rd before 2 out, pushed along in 2nd and challenged before last where not fluent, ridden and led narrowly final 150 yards, kept on well, headed close home
tracked leader, disputed 2nd, mistake 3rd, 2nd before 3 out, soon pushed along on outer, 3rd when switched to inner before last, no impression early run-in, ridden and stayed on to 2nd final 50 yards, kept on well, led close home
tracked leader, disputed 2nd, pushed along in 3rd before 3 out, no impression and dropped to rear before 2 out, no extra
Envoi Allen won this from Kemboy last year with Conflated beaten 13 lengths in third. The latter then turned the tables on the runner-up in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown before a fine effort when third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He again looked in need of his comeback when beaten a long way behind 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo in a Punchestown Grade 3, when the winner had his own way out in front which is unlikely to be the case here. GERRI COLOMBE, beaten just once in nine starts under Rules, is still only seven and is already a three-times Grade 1 winner over fences. He was very impressive in the Mildmay on his final start last season and can confirm his place at the top table here.
Conflated (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Led and disputed, headed 6th, 2nd halfway, pushed along after 3 out, dropped to 3rd after next, no impression when jumped badly left last, weakened close home, last of 5, 19 1/4l behind Minella Indo (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 7f (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Envoi Allen (FR) 13-8fav (11-12) Tracked leader, 3rd halfway and slight mistake 7th, pushed along 2 out and no impression before last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 6, 8 1/2l behind Easy Game (11-8) at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) hvy in Sep.
Gerri Colombe (FR) 4-6fav (11-7) Tracked leader until before 7th, left 2nd 12th, led going well 2 out, clear before last, easily, won at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr beating Complete Unknown (11-7) by 7 1/2l, 6 ran.
Minella Indo (IRE) 15-8fav (11-6) Led and disputed, went on after 6th, pushed along and extended advantage after 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Punchestown 2m 7f (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct beating Hurricane Georgie (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
