A method, system and computer program product for retrieving data records to a client computer. An identifier of a base query is received from the client computer. The base query is configured to select a set of data records from a database that the client computer has permission to access. A modifying clause is also received from the client computer. The modifying clause comprises a directive restricting the set of data records to a subset of data records. The modifying clause may optionally comprise an expression for sorting. A combined query is generated from the base query and the modifying clause. The query is configured to return the subset of data records. The combined query is further configured to sort the subset of data records based on the value of the expression if the expression is present. The combined query is executed at the database.