Expert Hong Kong form analyst Xavier Blair gives his race by race preview for tonight’s Happy Valley meeting, view his full list of race previews, tips and selections.
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Happy Valley
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Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 3 | Race 4 | Race 5 | Race 6 | Race7 | Race 8 |
Race 1 –Murray Handicap 1200m Rtg 40-0 Class 5
Ordinary class five to kick us off tonight as they always are and is best to steer clear and wait for the better races later on in the program. (6) Good Job has had fair form this time in and looks nicely suited from a handy draw for Zac Purton. He’s still a maiden from 12 career starts but hasn’t been far away in recent times. He should be at an each way quote but there’s not a great deal of confidence in the first.
(6) Good Job
(1) Dr Union
(7) Grandfield
(10) Shatin treasure
Race 2 – Garden Road Handicap 1200m Rtg 60-40 Class 4
Very open race with several horses holding their form well making it tough to be confident on a clear top pick. Fancy (7) Fortune General has more scope than most of these and he did make a stylish debut when 6th not beaten far on the All Weather Track behind Care Free Luck last month. He should have derived plenty of benefit from that run and natural improvement sees him go close in this.
(7) Fortune General
(11) Linked Win
(2) Caga Boy
(10) Darpana
Race 3 – Club Street Handicap 1200m Rtg 80-60 Class 3
(3) Turbo King is an exciting prospect from the Manfred Man yard and has some cracking form this time in. He’s been a short priced favourite at his past three starts here at Happy Valley winning two of them and running second at his most recent when he thundered home just too late behind the in- form Bolero. Prebble should take him back from an awkward draw but should still be sailing down the middle proving too strong.
(3) Turbo King
(1) Regency Winner
(9) Sea Prince
(5) Soaring River
Race 4 – Harcourt Handicap 1800m Rtg 60-40 Class 4
Really like the way (7) Suisse D’or is coming along this prep and it would pay to forgive his last start when he was found to have mucupous in his trachea which explained his fading 12th at Sha Tin on New Year’s Day. Before that he turned in an excellent showing when checked early and running home stoutly into 4th from a tricky draw. He looks a nice each way bet tonight.
(7) Suisse D’or **
(1) How Wonderful
(3) Surrounded
(8) Rain Of Thunder
Race 5 – The Hong Kong Club Challenge Cup (Handicap) 1000m Rtg 80-60 Class 3
Cracking race here over the 1000m and the speedy (7) Supreme Taiji could prove too slick for them. A narrow winner two starts back then he found trouble and ran on which is not his go last start. From the draw he should find the rails early and give this one hell of a shake.
(7) Supreme Taiji
(4) Ever Beauty
(6) Secret Of Winning
(3) Royal Doctor
Race 6 – Connaught Handicap 1650m Rtg 80-60 Class 3
Like (5) Legend Express here who made his course debut last start and won with plenty in hand. This race looks no tougher and is drawn well again. Hard to see him getting rolled against a field of non – winners.
(5) Legend Express *
(8) Euro Swiftly
(11) Viva Guy
(6) Cars King Prawn
Race 7 – The January Cup (Handicap) 1800m Rtg 90+ Class 1
Not often do we see Class Ones here at Happy Valley but this one is a cracker! (4) Super Pistachio put in an honest showing behind Snow Fairy on International Day last month and looks well placed in this event as he has a touch of class. (1) Mr Medici makes his course debut and last season’s HK Derby winner (2) Super Satin returns to happy Valley where he has won three times from three attempts. He is sure to run well with Whyte up and a lovely draw. (5) Blue Sky is a fit horse who is never far away. He could be the blowout.
(4) Super Pistachio
(2) Super Satin
(5) Blue Sky
(9) Hollywood Kiss
Race 8 – Chater Handicap 1200m Rtg 100-80 Class 2
Another strong race to end the program where we see some rising stars do battle, (4) Good Words and (6) Romantic City. Both like to lead in their races and there doesn’t look to be too much early pace so the race could easily be fought out between them or if they cut each other’s throats in front it sets the race up for a back marker. Who will take the sit? And who will push on for the lead? An intriguing battle awaits. Ex Australian ‘The Mikado’ (5) Chater Mikado is second up after a nice debut at Sha Tin and with Whyte up can find the frame tonight.
(4) Good Words
(5) Chater Mikado
(3) Forever Elation
(7) Super Boy
Written by Xavier Blair
