led, wandered 5th, headed next, 4th and outpaced 3 out, rallied to chase winner briefly when jumped left and unseated rider next
tracked leader, led 6th, drew readily clear from 2 out, comfortably
tracked leading pair, lost place before 5th, outpaced next, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
raced keenly, held up in 5th, headway to join winner on inside 6th, ridden and lost place before 2 out, soon no impression
held up in 4th, chased leading pair before 5th, went 2nd before 2 out, soon ridden, no chance with winner between last 2, lost 2nd flat
raced keenly, held up in rear, chased leaders when not fluent 3 out, left 3rd next, stayed on to go 2nd flat, no chace with winner
There's no guarantee that Sedgefield winner Bernisdale will confirm that form with third Kalkan Bay under a penalty and John Flint's filly may also find a couple of the others too strong at the weights, in particular hurdling newcomers Portrait Painter and HOLLOW TREE. Rebecca Curtis' charge was an expensive yearling but has only made it to the track once so far. He could be one to follow as he gains experience but the latter looks the one to be on today as he's a half-brother to a winning hurdler and won twice over 1m6f on the Flat for Andrew Balding at Sandown in July.
Bernisdale 13-2 (10-5) Made all, ridden before last, soon pressed, kept on gamely, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (5) gd beating Residence And Spa (10-12) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Hollow Tree 4-1 (8-9) Led after 1f, made rest, came stands side over 3f out, ridden inside final 2f, stayed on under pressure final furlong, held on near finish, won at Sandown 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) sft in Jul beating Slight Advantage (8-6) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran (flat).
Kalkan Bay 8-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd before last, kept on, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Bernisdale (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (5) gd.
Kissing Clara (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 6th until after 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 9, 31l behind Alfraamsey (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 3yo hdl (4) gf.
Portrait Painter (USA) 7-1 (9-3) Led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 13l behind New Hampshire (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Jun (flat).
Spartan King (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) In touch, took keen hold, mistake 2nd, headway approaching next, went 4th 3 out, soon weakened, mistake 2 out, 4th of 9, 32l behind Dark Spirit (10-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gf.
