held up, ridden over 1f out, never going pace to troubled leaders
made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on well
prominent, ridden over 1f out, soon beaten
broke well, lost place over 3f out, headway 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, no impression
raced freely, prominent, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, no impression
Nonrunner
Buachaill Dona can foil the follow-up bid of Sierra Vista, with Corridor Creeper and River Falcon other noteworthy contenders. Sierra Vista is sure to have her supporters following an all the way success over the course-and-distance a fortnight ago, but that was a conditions event in which she received weight all round. Today she has to give a few pounds away to all bar Orientor, and preference is for Buachaill Dona, winner of three of his five starts last term, and who shaped well when a close fourth on his reappearance at York eight days ago. That was over six furlongs, and the way that he faded in the closing stages very much suggests that the drop back to the minimum will be in his favour here. The 2005 winner Corridor Creeper has to be respected off a 4lb lower mark, while Jim Goldie, successful with Indian Spark seven years ago, is double-handed with the aforementioned Orientor and River Falcon who has been knocking at the door. Richard Fahey won this event in 1999 with Night Flight and you can bet that Philharmonic will be plenty fit enough on his return, but our vote goes to Buachaill Dona.
Orientor 16-1 (9-10) Raced stands side, towards rear, ridden and not much room over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 9th of 23, 3l behind Fonthill Road (9-2) at Ayr 6f hcap (2) gs in Sept.
Sierra Vista 8-1 (8-9) Made all, ridden 2f out kept on, won at Haydock 6f stk (2) gd beating Borderlescott (9-0) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Corridor Creeper (FR) 17-2 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Terentia (9-6) at York 5f hcp 0-100 (2) gs.
River Falcon 11-4 (8-12) Held up, ridden and headway from halfway, led entering final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 8, hd behind The Tatling (8-12) at Musselburgh 5f stk (2) gf.
Buachaill Dona (IRE) 6-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, driven to challenge approaching final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 3l behind Wyatt Earp (8-8) at York 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd.
Portmeirion (8-7) 6th of 13, 5l behind Fantastica (8-7) at Baden-Baden 5f lst stk sft in Oct.
Philharmonic 12-1 (8-11) Held up mid-division, never on terms, 8th of 11, 4l behind Mecca's Mate (8-12) at Newmarket 5f hcp 0-110 (2) gs in Oct.
Fantasy Explorer 14-1 (9-3) Chased leader, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 16, 9l behind Kostar (9-5) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Apr.
Stoneacre Lad (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) In touch, ridden along halfway, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Off The Record (8-8) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-90 (3) fbs.
