Cheltenham choice to make with Vincenzo

Vincenzo is likely to wait until Cheltenham Festival Trials day before attempting to make it third time lucky at Prestbury Park this season.

Sam Thomas’ consistent operator has now finished second in both the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the December equivalent run in honour of the Hunt Family Fund.

Thomas is now considering his options following that second near miss behind surprise winner Glengouly and although holding another entry in the Cotswolds for Cheltenham’s New Year’s Day fixture, he is inclined to wait until January 25 before contemplating options up in trip later in the campaign.

The trainer said: “I’d say New Year’s Day might be a bit soon for him, although I don’t want to completely rule it out, but we will maybe go there on Trials day before having a crack at something like the old Racing Post Chase (Ladbrokes Trophy) or Newbury’s Greatwood Gold Cup.

“He’s doing us proud at the minute. We would like to try three miles with him and although we wouldn’t want to go to the well too many times over three miles this season, it is definitely something we would be keen to try.

“I think he will get the three miles, especially the way he has been finishing off his races at Cheltenham over two and a half. People keep saying Doctor Dinos don’t get three miles, but I would love to try with him anyway.”