Dream success for King
Alan King has few equals in reputation during the jumps season but the Barbury Castle yard’s small Flat string continue to excel and Spring Dream proved the latest example at Bath.
The 6-4 favourite is another to have returned from hurdling and appeared at the same track with a good second three weeks previously.
Luck was not immediately on her side in the Matthew Clark Fillies’ Handicap and Richard Hughes had to sit tight to find room but she took full command when hitting the front well inside the final furlong, eventually obliging a shade cosily by half a length from Bassinet.
“That’s my seventh Flat winner and we’ve only had about 30 runners,” said King. “We had 10 last season in all, so I’m delighted how they’re running.
“This one is no world-beater and she didn’t actually win over hurdles but she should give us some fun. She’ll keep going then eventually go back hurdling.”
Whiskey Junction was 11-10 favourite for the previous renewal of what is now the Premier Conservatory Roofs Median Auction Maiden Stakes but he was withdrawn after rearing up and hurting himself in the stalls.
Undeterred, punters sent him off the 7-4 market leader this time and in the famous silks of the Kingsclere Racing Club, better known as those of Mill Reef, he led for the majority of the five-furlong dash under Liam Keniry, finishing with a length and a half in hand over Wotashirtfull.
Balding explained: “It was a nasty incident in this race last year. He came back with some bad cuts and we weren’t sure he was going to make it.”
Just as well known from times gone by are the apricot colours of Lady Howard de Walden, who enjoyed her first winner with Hughie Morrison in the Bet365 Best Odds Guaranteed On Every Race Handicap through Stow (7-2).
“I think this is a very green horse who still has much to learn,” said Morrison. “He may improve at a mile and a half.”
William Muir was quick to deflect any praise for the handling of Buy On The Red (14-1), who returned from a 114-day absence to take the Matthew Clark Handicap close home.
“He’s not been in long and I’ve done nothing with him. Perhaps that’s the key - not training them,” Muir said.
The clear top three in the morning forecast were withdrawn in the E.B.F/Lindley Catering Novice Stakes, leaving Brian Meehan’s Zezao sent off the 8-15 favourite and he coasted home by six lengths hard-held.
“If they were all like that it would be nice,” said winning jockey Neil Callan.
Edward Bevan’s Bold Cross (16-1) was the answer to a tight Gregory Thain Handicap while Balding completed a double with Brave Bugsy (11-1) in the Premier Conservatory Roofs Handicap.
