Windsor Preview: Spring Fling primed to open account

Spring Fling finished an excellent runner-up last time out and holds outstanding claims of going one better in the 6f classified contest on this evening’s six-race card at Windsor (8.20).

The Henry Candy trained filly went down by just a neck to Lightning Moon in a 6f maiden on soft ground at Salisbury after attempting to make all.

The pair pulled five lengths clear of the third home, and the winner is a highly promising sort who has gone on to bolt up by six lengths in a handicap at Haydock.

That gives the form a really solid look, and Spring Fling remains open to plenty more improvement after just three starts.

The daughter of Assertive looks to have been found a golden opportunity by connections to open her account, and it will be disappointing if the three-year-old doesn’t take it.

In the 1m 2f handicap, the booking of young jockey sensation Oisin Murphy to partner Persepolis catches the eye.

Murphy has a 33% strike rate in the past 12 months when teaming up with horses trained by Brett Johnson, and Persepolis has become potentially well-treated at the weights.

The four year-old looked sure to win plenty of races when landing a Sandown maiden by 12 lengths last July when trained by Sir Michael Stoute, but has only managed to make the frame once in six subsequent starts.

That came four starts back at Lingfield when third in a class 3 contest over 1m 2f off a handicap mark of 86, and Persepolis now gets into this lower grade class 4 affair off 4lb lower.

It makes the son of Dansili look handily weighted on the pick of his form, especially when taking Murphy’s 3lb claim into account, and a bit of each-way value in what is a wide open contest.
Nobody rides the track better than Richard Hughes, and the champion jockey can bag himself another winner aboard top-weight Oddysey in the 1m handicap (7.50).

The Michael Dods trained mare won three times last year, and shaped as if coming to the back to the boil when a solid fourth of 14 to Llanarmon Lad in a competitive contest at Thirsk last month.