held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace
led over 4f, eased final furlong
pulled hard, held up in touch, headway 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden clear inside final furlong
chased leaders, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
pulled hard, prominent, lost place over 4f out, ridden and some headway over 1f out, beaten when not much room inside final furlong
chased leader, ridden halfway, beaten when not much room 1f out
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
slow into stride, soon prominent, chased leader 4f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace
slow into stride, towards rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, soon not clear run, soon eased
raced wide, mid-division, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out
headway over 4f out, ridden and led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra
held up in touch, ridden and every chance over 1f out, same pace final furlong
David Loder's Perfect Portrait should have learned from his debut in handicap-company at Folkestone last time, on what was only his second career start, but this looks no easier and we prefer to side with Artistry, who gets the nod over B A Highflyer. The last mentioned became expensive to follow last term until finally opening his account for the campaign at Brighton in October. Mick Channon's gelding remains on a fair mark and has to be respected but preference is for Artistry, who is re-united with Darryll Holland. Frankie MacDonald partnered the filly when she finished a respectable fifth behind Flowerdrum on her return to the turf at Yarmouth last week in a race over a mile. Holland had been on board when scoring over this trip at Lingfield previously and it looks significant that he is back on board today returning to seven furlongs. Balakiref has to race off a 9lb higher mark than when scoring here over six furlongs earlier in the month and was well held off a 3lb lower mark last time and a bigger threat may come from Tony Newcombe's Mufreh, who has slipped to an attractive mark. Hollow Jo has the undoubted assistance of Kieren Fallon but may need this on his return to action and we are happy to side with Artistry.