Bride Tree covers the Christmas expenses for Dawson Bride Tree was a big-priced, but far from unbacked, winner of the second division of the seven-furlong handicap in the hands of Jack Cleary. Having opened 66/1 in the show, the Garswood filly was returned 22/1 and tracked the leaders before coming through to hit the front travelling best over a furlong out. She was ridden out to score by a length and three quarters from the front-running Chica Power. Getting off the mark on her eleventh start, Bride Tree was returning from a break after a poor run at the Curragh in October but had been third at headquarters the previous month. Winning trainer Sarah Dawson said: "She did (travel all over them) - she has been in really, really good form. "She had been running well in the summer, couple of nice placings and then went very flat. I think we had a bit of a bug in the yard. "We just put her on the easy list, freshened her up and brought her back. She has been in serious form at home, so she has really done today what I thought she could do. "It was a pleasant surprise! "She handles a bit of soft, I wasn't sure she would cope with it (Polytrack) as well as the soft. "I was a wee bit worried that seven would be just a bit quick for her. We had her in last week over a mile and she got balloted out. I thought then I would have to go the seven as when you are balloted out you have to run. "I am delighted for the owner, Kieran Burke, who has been very patient and I was trying to get a win for him. I am delighted that she got a win in her three-year-old year, it makes a difference. "She'll get another spin here after the way she handled it there." Quotes from Michael Graham
