Listed are tonights Happy Valley preview and tips.
Race 1 – WAN CHAI GAP HANDICAP
Turf ,”C+3″ Course ,1000m
Rating 40-10
Ordinary lot here where it is hard to split Chain Win (2) and Happy Sunday (11) who clearly have superior form over their rivals in this 1000m scamper. I have a slight leading to Happy Sunday (11) who has solid form in these conditions and looks suited from a good draw and with a light weight. He knocked up to finish just outside the placings last start over the 1200m and looks better suited to the shorter course tonight. Chain Win (2) has the cherry gate and it is best to overlook his past couple when drawn wide and never given a chance. Before that he won here over the 1000m and was then placed down the Sha Tin straight. He is a great chance and the quinella looks a moral. Seize The Day (3) is finding it hard to crack it for his second win but his turn doesn’t look far away judging by a solid on pace effort last start from a wide gate. Give him plenty of thought along with first up Lead The Prospects (6) who impressed in a recent trial and should show something tonight at a price.
Selections:
11-2-3-6
Race 2 – QUEEN’S ROAD EAST HANDICAP
Turf ,”C+3″ Course ,1000m
Rating 60-40
Double Dragon (1) looks well placed here for 10 pound claiming apprentice Ben So from a good draw as he has been tackling some pretty handy opposition in recent times. Forgive his last start failure where he pulled up with an abnormality in his breathing and his form before that is exceptional including a neck defeat behind Napa II which is great form for a class 4 here at the Valley. Tout Va Bien (6) is a handy performer who has been around the mark of late and it is best to go on his recent placing to Our Pegasus over this course and distance last month. Rugby Heaven (8) put in an improved run down the Sha Tin straight last Sunday and with Douglas Whyte back on top he looks to be running himself into some nice form. Next best is Mighty Feeling (11) who will enjoy this light weight and wasn’t far away from Our Pegasus in that same race. From a middle draw he could add value to the exotics.
Selections:
1-6-8-11
Race 3 – STUBBS HANDICAP
Turf ,”C+3″ Course ,1200m
Rating 60-40
Destiny’s Child (5) is a tough on pacer who always gives his all and looks suited tonight from the cherry and is coming off an impressive trial late last month where he led and was only headed late when not asked for the supreme effort. He will find the top here and give one hell of a sight. All Time High (2) is another tough campaigner who has only the one win to his name but is rarely far away as indicated by his past couple when just outside the placings to some handy types including National Treasure and General Smile. He looks a nice each way prospect. Blink Again (6) also trialled well recently and looks set to improve on his numerical form after a couple of poor performances. Next best is top weight K-Jack (1) who finished off the race stylishly last start behind Karbridge and is a must for the multiples.
Selections:
5-2-6-1
Race 4 – TIN LOK HANDICAP
Turf ,”C+3″ Course ,1650m
Rating 60-40
This looks a nice race for The Untouchablelad (4) to break his maiden status after four straight placings here at Happy Valley. The wide draw shouldn’t be too much of a concern as he likes to get back in his races and if the pace is on he will be motoring home out wide on the track. Magnanimous (9) is the main danger who could get a soft lead here as he gave a strong kick after racing on pace last start when collared late by Implied Volatility. That’s pretty handy form for this and is a definite threat. Redoute’s Fortune (11) has drawn well here for his Valley debut and has been making good headway on the Sha Tin course in recent times. He should position closer to the speed tonight and looks set to find the frame tonight. Down in class is Nordic Star (1) who gets Douglas Whyte and gate one. He has been a similar margin from the winner in tougher grade and therefore should improve down in class tonight.
Selections:
4-9-11-1
Race 5 – TAI YUEN HANDICAP
Turf ,”C+3″ Course ,1650m
Rating 60-40
Have been waiting for Red Ruler (8) to tackle the Valley mile for sometime as he has been teasing us over the 1200m at his past couple and looks well suited tonight from a middle draw. He should be able to find a nice trail and is sure to be a huge factor at the business end. Supreme Gold (10) led them up over the mile last start and wasn’t beaten too far by Implied Volatility in a good form race. He looks the pace in the race along with Classa Supreme (111) who both should be able to give a big sight on this tight C+3 course. Bobo Win (5) is a 10 year old with plenty of life in him still as he closed well for 5th last time out behind Care Free Midas (9). He meets that fellow on better terms tonight and looks the testing material.
Selections:
8-10-11-5
Race 6 – THE VOLUNTEERS’ CHALLENGE CUP (HANDICAP)
Turf ,”C+3″ Course ,2200m
Rating 80-60
Horace’s Legend (5) comes into this race with strong form lines which include his close up second to Glory Of India on the Sha Tin circuit last start where he closed well off a good trail. He couldn’t have drawn any better tonight and should crack it for his first win in Hong Kong here tonight. Eastern Empire (3) improved significantly to claim an 1800m Valley event at only his second start here in Hong Kong and looks to have improved even more since his last start victory. He draws the ideal alley here tonight and I can see him sitting three back the fence and weaving a passage late to figure in the finish. Man In The Mirror (7) was the eye catcher last start in the race that Eastern Empire won where he ran into dead ends in the straight and looks suited by the extra distance with Douglas Whyte sticking with him. Fat Dragon (2) got out to a huge lead with the blinkers back on last start and was only run down in the shadows of the post by Glory Of India and Horace’s Legend. From a wide gate he is likely to push forward again and be mighty hard to shake off on the tight course tonight.
Selections:
5-3-7-2
Race 7 – KENNEDY HANDICAP
Turf ,”C+3″ Course ,1200m
Rating 80-60
I’m making Confucius Classic (1) my bet of the night following an eye catching run in much tougher grade last time out behind the handy Yummy Spirits. Before that he was slow out behind the talented Royal Flush which is strong form lines for this Class 3 tonight. Bondi Lad (10) led all the way for a much deserved victory last time out when he went around at silly odds. From gate three he looks destined to find the top again and with an untroubled run in front he could easily repeat his last start success. Magic Sweep (5) is a very consistent gelding who is sure to fill a placing from the ideal draw and it is best to forgive his last start when trapped wide the entire. Team Work (4) is next best who has been a tad unlucky following his solid win on this course back in Janurary. Give him plenty of thought with 10 pound claimer engaged.
Selections:
1*-10-5-4
Race 8 – MORRISON HILL HANDICAP
Turf ,”C+3″ Course ,1650m
Rating 80-60
My Mate Adric (11) is backing up from an excellent run on the Sha Tin course on Sunday where he was specked in the betting and stuck on well for third behind Master Elite and Legend Express. He finds himself in a much easier race and is certainly holding his condition well. Bullish Win (2) has been pretty hit and miss lately over the Valley mile where he finished a close up third behind Flying In then was down the track behind Soviet Pearl. He’s been given a month off and draws to have some success tonight. O’Reilly Magic (3) is a talented galloper who only battled to the line last start behind Young Hero but his win before that over Moon Chaser was highly encouraging and from a good draw he should go well. Travel Guide (7) is not to be dismissed back in distance which should see him hopefully go one better after a close up placing behind Eastern Empire over 1800m.
Selections: 11**-2-3-7
Written by Xavier Blair