held up in touch, not fluent 5th, tracked leaders and going well approaching 4 out, ridden next, chased winner after 2 out, no impression
tracked leader, led 10th, headed 4 out, led again 3 out, clear from last
prominent, led 5th to 7th, pushed along 9th, weakened 10th, tailed off, pulled up before last
held up in rear, detached 4th, blundered when unseated rider 6th
tracked leaders, mistake 8th, soon lost place, tailed off from 9th, pulled up soon after
led to 5th, led again 7th, headed 10th, led again 4 out, headed next, weakened after 2 out
Sierra Peak is a capable performer but Martin Todhunter's gelding faces no easy task in what seems a virtual match between BUACHAILL ON EIRNE and Corkage with preference for the former. Gordon Elliott's gelding showed decent form over hurdles and stepped up from a promising debut outing over fences when running out the good winner of a beginners' chase at Limerick and he looks the one to beat following that effort. Lucinda Russell's Corkage has shown gradual improvement over hurdles and has to be of interest on his chasing debut receiving 6lbs from the selection but his lack of experience over the larger obstacles has to be of some concern. There is little to recommend the remaining trio of Ellandshe, More Shennanigans and Red Dawn, who are likely to be fighting out for third and fourth place at best. The safest option looks to be Buachaill On Eirne, who is taken to make the most of his chasing experience and win again.
Buachaill On Eirne (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Soon tracked leaders, slightly slow 6 out and next, on terms from 3 out, headed before 2 out where left in front and clear, stayed on well, won at Limerick 2m 3f beg chs gd in Jun beating Marhaba Million (11-12) by 4l, 16 ran.
Corkage (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Held up, ridden from 9th, plugged on, dismounted after race, 5th of 12, 31l behind Last Flight (9-9) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Jun.
Ellandshe (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) With leader, pushed along approaching 13th, soon weakened, pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Valerius (10-12) at Perth 3m nov stks (4) gf, 8 ran.
More Shennanigans 100-1 (10-9) Held up, struggling from 7th, tailed off when blundered last, 5th of 7, 46l behind Dishdasha (11-4) at Perth 2m nov stks (4) gf.
Red Dawn (IRE) 22-1 (11-1) Mid-division on inside, reminders 8th, weakened 4 out, 8th of 12, well behind Uptown Lad (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-85 (5) gf in Jun.
Sierra Peak (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 9, 20l behind Pengana (10-12) at Perth 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
