tracked leader, left in lead when hampered bend after 8th, joined next, headed 11th, outpaced 4 out, no chance with winner from next, tailed off
in rear, left 3rd and last bend after 8th, soon struggling, lost touch 5 out, continued tailed off
led until slipped up on bend after 8th
tracked leading pair, left 2nd when hampered bend after 8th, challenged next, led 11th, drew well clear from 3 out, very easily
There may only be four runners in this finale but it looks a decent hunter chase nevertheless. ICE TEA won at Doncaster in February before finishing a good second at Sandown. He fell in the Aintree Foxhunters' on his latest start under Rules but can be forgiven that and has since enjoyed a walk over between the flags. He is taken to give the weight away to his rivals the best of which may be Fourty Acers, who has won a couple of point-to-points very easily recently. Shouldhavehadthat was second in a hunter chase at Aintree last time and is preferred to Paddy's Tern of the other pair.
Ice Tea (IRE) (12-7) Walked over, won at Alpraham 3m ptp gf in Apr, 1 ran.
Paddy's Tern 11-8 (12-7) Led 2-4; drvn to ld cl home, won at Flagg Moor 3m ptp fm in Apr beating Family Guy (12-0) by nk, 3 ran.
Fourty Acers (IRE) Evens0 (12-0) (cp) made all; qcknd clr 13; unchall, won at Alpraham 3m ptp gf in Apr, 2 ran.
Shouldhavehadthat (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Held up, went 4th after 15th, left 3rd after 4 out, went 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 18l behind Aggie's Lad (11-6) at Aintree 3m 1f hts chs (5) gd.
