Performance optimization in resolving host patterns

Avoid resolving a pattern that is a plain host. When matching a hostname in the
hosts_cache, just use the host object from there.

When running a task on say 750 hosts, this yields a huge improvement.

lib/ansible/inventory/__init__.py

@@ -213,15 +213,18 @@ class Inventory(object):
         hosts = []
 
         for p in patterns:
-            that = self.__get_hosts(p)
+            # avoid resolving a pattern that is a plain host
-            if p.startswith("!"):
+            if p in self._hosts_cache:
-                hosts = [ h for h in hosts if h not in that ]
+                hosts.append(self.get_host(p))
-            elif p.startswith("&"):
-                hosts = [ h for h in hosts if h in that ]
             else:
-                to_append = [ h for h in that if h.name not in [ y.name for y in hosts ] ]
+                that = self.__get_hosts(p)
-                hosts.extend(to_append)
+                if p.startswith("!"):
-        
+                    hosts = [ h for h in hosts if h not in that ]
+                elif p.startswith("&"):
+                    hosts = [ h for h in hosts if h in that ]
+                else:
+                    to_append = [ h for h in that if h.name not in [ y.name for y in hosts ] ]
+                    hosts.extend(to_append)
         return hosts
 
     def __get_hosts(self, pattern):