held up towards rear, headway into mid-division 4th, chased leaders after 3 out, weakened approaching next
always towards rear, never a factor
always towards rear, never involved
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4th, weakened before last
held up in rear, passed a few beaten horses run-in, never remotely involved
mid-division, pushed laong after 3 out, headway on outside chasing leaders before next, stayed on run-in, went never nearer 3rd in closing stages
led until headed before 2 out, weakened quickly, soon behind
held up towards rear, promising headway on outside chasing leaders 3 out, weakened tamely before next
took keen hold, always towards rear, never involved
held up towards rear, good headway approaching 5th, chasaed leaders before next, mistake 2 out, weakening when slightly hampered run-in
chased leaders, 2nd and every chance 2 out, lost 2nd betwwn last two, 3rd and one pace when went left last, lost 3rd in closing stages
chased leaders, 2nd between last two, led approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in
never better than mid-division, pushed along and struggling towards rear after 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before last
in touch in mid-division, weakened after 3 out
chased leader, led before 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on run-in, always held
behind, headway on outside after 3 out, chased leaders approaching and mistake 2 out, weakened after 2 out
chased leaders, jumped slowly 5th, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, brief rally between last two, weakened before the last
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The National Hunt season draws to a close with a devilishy-difficult handicap hurdle, though it's fitting that Paul Nicholls, Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson all have multiple entries. Henderson had the winner in 2012 but David Pipe boasts the best recent record having won it in 2008 and 2010. The Nicholashayne handler saddles DELL' ARCA and he attracted significant support at Aintree earlier this month. The seven-year-old could well recoup losses here as he now has his favoured ground whereas conditions may be too quick for a few of his rivals. Party Rock won at Aintree but was pulled up in this last year and has followed a similar campaign. Bellow Mome looks the pick of the Mullins trip while Close Touch may prove the best of his stable's four runners. It's difficult to work out which of the Nicholls runners will do best, though Red Hanrahan and Chartbreaker are unexposed as is Royal Vacation. Matorico came back to form at Cheltenham 10 days ago and is only 4lb higher.
Kilcrea Vale (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Behind, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders next, no extra approaching last, 6th of 17, 13 1/4l behind Rock The Kasbah (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Qualando (FR) 10-3fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, 3rd approaching last, soon ridden, stayed on to challenge and every chance towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 11, shd behind Here's Herbie (11-1) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Wilde Blue Yonder (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, went 3rd before last until no extra towards finish, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Lac Fontana (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr.
Ma du Fou (FR) 7-1cfav (11-3) Tracked leaders, faultered after 1st, lost place when ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Hunters Hoof (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and one pace before last, weakened flat, 16th of 26, 13 3/4l behind Diamond King (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Matorico (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 2 out, challenged flat, led inside final 100 yards, stayed on, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr beating Zarib (10-11) by nk, 16 ran.
Party Rock (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Led to after 2nd, remained prominent, ridden after 3 out, led again next, edged right between last 2, not fluent last, stayed on well flat, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Apr beating Champagne At Tara (10-11) by 5l, 22 ran.
Close Touch 6-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, headway 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before last, 4th of 7, 23l behind Thunder Sheik (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Gold Present (IRE) 18-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 2nd before 3 out until pushed along on long run before next, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 17, 35 1/4l behind Might Bite (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Mad Jack Mytton (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) In touch, blundered and unseated rider 6th, at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Dell' Arca (IRE) 9-2jfav (11-6) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 17, 22l behind Ivan Grozny (11-12) at Aintree 2m hcp (2) sft in Apr.
Mckinley 14-1 (11-10) Soon raced in 4th, pushed along briefly 8th, in rear and reminders 10th, no extra approaching 3 out, 4th of 6, 31l behind Kylemore Lough (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Mar.
Red Hanrahan (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Prominent, led 3rd, clear when hung badly right flat, stayed on, won at Fontwell 2m 6f (4) sft in Apr beating Clondaw Cian (11-6) by 7l, 9 ran.
Royal Vacation (IRE) 1-2fav (11-13) Made all, not fluent 5th, pushed along before 3 out, joined next, mistake last, driven and in command flat, won at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) sft in Mar beating King Cool (11-7) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Gioia Di Vita 5-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, pressed leader 3 out to before next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression before last, weakened flat, 8th of 9, 20 1/4l behind After Eight Sivola (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Bellow Mome (FR) 4-1 (11-3) Tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd after 7th, close 4th 4 out, progress to dispute lead 2 out, travelled well to lead narrowly before last where not fluent, headed run-in, ridden and rallied to lead closing stages, held on, won at Limerick 2m 4f hvy in Apr beating A Great View (11-8) by hd, 5 ran.
Bon Enfant (FR) 9-2jfav (11-7) Chased leaders, pushed along and went 3rd at the last, one pace run-in, 3rd of 11, 12l behind Ballycross (11-0) at Sandown 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Burgas (FR) 10-1 (11-8) Mid-division, progress to chase leaders 3 out, ridden in 6th entering straight, no extra 2 out, pulled up before last, at Fairyhouse 3m hcp Yielding in Mar.
Alcala (FR) 6-5fav (11-11) Tracked leader, led before 4th, took keen hold, headed last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Impulsive American (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Chartbreaker (FR) 7-2fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, lost place 2nd, headway after 7th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on approaching last, went 3rd flat, no chance with winner, 3rd of 14, 10 1/2l behind Cottersrock (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
