Picture: Happy Valley
Tim Carroll (At The Races)
Race 1: Class 5 Hung To Handicap (1040am) (6 furlongs)
9 GREAT DAYS is an eleven start maiden on a quick turn around, but he’s shown a bit of improvement recently, running a career best when runner-up on the weekend at Sha Tin over this trip. He was kept safe in the betting that day, thus a decent performance was expected, and he has a similar low draw here, which should see him with all the favours in behind the leaders.
Dangers:
10 Happily Friends didn’t have the rub of the green last time but has been placed three times this campaign and looks well placed now that he has a 10lb claimer taking over for the first time this season.
2 Wind Speeder finds it hard to win, but his effort two back when runner-up over course & trip would put him right in the mix here, Purton takes over, and he’s well drawn.
5 August Moon last win was nearly two years ago, but it was from a 14lb higher mark and he does have a 5lb claimer aboard here, but he will have to overcome a tough draw.
Race 2: Class 4 Wai Yip Handicap (1110am) (1 mile)
2 CHARITY BINGO will be a bit of a swing given he’s yet to place in nine local starts, but he was a thrice winner (known as Tyrone’s Poppy) as a 2yo for Tim Easterby, attaining a 109 OR, thus we know the ability is there. The selection was having his first spin in this grade last time, and was running a decent race when he copped the back wash of trouble in front in a contest over seven furlongs at Sha Tin, a run easily forgiven, and he lands in what is a moderate affair.
Dangers:
8 Atomic Beauty picked up the bronze over course & trip last time in one of the better form line races for this, and he did win over course & trip here in December from the same high draw, albeit from a 6lb lower mark.
3 Red Majesty hasn’t won for well over a year, but he’s a course & trip specialist that ran well enough in defeat when dropping down to this level last time, and Karis Teetan now takes over.
11 Club Soda is a six-start maiden from a leading yard that is yet to place, but he has shown signs of improvement recently, and from toward the foot of the handicap is worth considering for any exotics.
Race 3: Class 4 Wai Yip Handicap (1140am) (1 mile)
1 CAPITAL LEGEND hasn’t won since his local debut in December 2022, however he drops down to this level for the very first time and he has plenty in his favour. The selection draws perfectly in 2, and with the 10lb claim for Ellis Wong, he now effectively runs from 20lb below his winning mark, and 18lb below his mark when placing over course trip earlier this season. Although no leader, his win did come over six-furlongs, thus he should be able to sit handy with a smooth run in transit.
Dangers:
4 Fearless Fire is finding is difficult to get back into the winners circle, but he’s ran with merit his last four starts, all over course & trip, and he once again has a favourable draw.
3 Fight Time defied market expectations when picking up the bronze over seven-furlongs on debut at Sha Tin last month, and has plenty of scope, but he does have a tricky draw on his first visit to Happy Valley.
11 Cordyceps One ran well enough in defeat when unplaced at Sha Tin last time, but he did win over course & trip the start prior and although up in grade now, with the 5lb claim, he effectively runs from a 19lb lower mark.
Race 4: Class 4 Tsun Yip Handicap (1210pm) (6 furlongs)
4 FLYING PHANTOM is a low mileage 3yo that was having just his third start when runner-up over course & trip last time. He was a length behind the winner, but was conceding his rival 9lbs, and was well clear of the third, who he was conceding 10lbs. The selection is from a yard notorious for taking their time, thus it’s highly likely he’ll take another step forward, and champion jockey, Zac Purton, now takes over.
Dangers:
11 Super Eagle is proving tough to win with but he’s been placed his last six starts from similar marks, and the race does map favourably from the low draw.
1 Golden Long was an easy winner over course & trip on debut in December, but was tad disappointing despite a far from ideal trip last time when a beaten favourite, but he could bounce back here.
5 Talent Supremo, can be forgiven an unplaced effort last time when held up and casting a plate, however, he won over course & trip in November from just a 4lb lower mark, & hasn’t been beaten far a few times since from tough draws.
Race 5: Class 3 Volunteers Challenge Cup (Handicap) (1240pm) (6 furlongs)
4 COLOURFUL EMPEROR, who won a maiden at Naas (known as Keepupwithmyempire) for Jessica Harrington, is yet to breakthrough in seven local starts but has run with promise several times this season, suggesting he should be winning soon. The selection was placed behind an odd-on favourite over this trip at Sha Tin last time when he went from the front, and theres not much of a gallop on offer here, thus from the low draw, they may look to do the same.
Dangers:
6 Happy Trio arrives with a 6lb penalty having won over course & trip last time, and whilst he will need a career best from his new mark, he won easily enough last time.
3 A Americ Te Specso represents a formidable combination and he does tend to finish off his races strongly, however, there’s no more than a moderate gallop on offer, so he’ll will need some luck.
8 Denfield has been out of sorts recently, but he did make all over course & trip earlier in the season, and they may revert back to those tactics here from the low draw and with a 5lb claim.
Race 6: Class 4 Hoi Yuen Handicap (110pm) (5 furlongs)
3 HARMONY FIRE hasn’t won for an age, but he has plummeted the handicap during that time and has gone close a couple of times since dropping down to this level recently. The selection was only beaten a lip over course & trip last time after working across from a high draw to lead. However, the task will be a tad more straightforward now that he draws low, and with Ellis Wong claiming 10lbs, he is now effectively 9lb better off, needless to say, he’ll be tough to hold out.
Dangers:
1 Fortune Warrior is a speedy type that won over course & trip earlier in the season, and whilst he goes from the top of the handicap, this is a lessor race than the one he was beaten just over two-lengths in last time.
7 Mollys Witness is a debutant that has won a couple of trials, and from the inside draw with Zac Purton booked, a market watched is strongly advised.
2 Fun Elite was an impressive winner down the straight course & Sha Tin on debut, but was disappointing last time despite a poor start when an unplaced favourite, but should be kept on the safe side his first try around a bend.
Race 7: Class 4 Tsun Yip Handicap (145pm) (6 furlongs)
3 ERNEST FEELING keeps running good races despite mostly being unwanted by punters. The selection has now won five times in the last twelve months, only once going off shorter than 9.30 on the tote, and he arrives with figures this season that read 1-2-1-2. The selection was given plenty to do from a high draw last time when coming from last to grab the silver, but he made all the start prior, needless to say he’s versatile, and from the same mark and a kinder draw, he once again should be in the thick of things.
Dangers:
8 Crystal Powerful is starting to live up to the promise he showed as a younger horse in Australia, he arrives here on a three-timer, and given the recent improvement, a 7lb penalty might not be enough to halt his progress
5 Lyrical Motion was a twice winner over course & trip before a luckless run last time when planted wide the entire trip from a high draw, but he should have a far cheaper run in transit this time from the low draw.
7 Country Dancer is a low mileage maiden that ran a career best last time when beaten a lip in third having been given a more positive ride than his previous three starts, and he should have more to offer.
Race 8: Class 3 Mut Wah Handicap (215pm) (6 furlongs)
8 RIGHTEOUS ARION is yet to win in three starts at this level, but he was successful over course & trip in November, and he has had a couple of tough draws to overcome recently. The selection was placed from an outside draw over course & trip last time in a much better Class 3 than this , which is confirmed by the fact he carries 6lb more here despite dropping 1lb in the ratings, and from the low draw with the 5lb claim, he looks worth a play in an open contest.
Dangers:
2 Nicconi County won over course & trip last time when he ran through the line strongly, and although he goes up 5lb in the handicap, he has won from a higher mark in the past.
4 Act Of Faith is only 4lb above his winning mark over course & trip from November, and they should be able to ride him a bit more positively here, similar to when he won, than what they have done at his last couple of starts.
5 Prince Of Porty is a low mileage 5yo that has run well enough in defeat all four starts after a lengthy break and he should enjoy stepping back up to six-furlongs, but he does have a tricky draw.
Race 9: Class 3 Yue Man Handicap (250pm) (9 furlongs)
12 NOBLE PURSUIT is a low mileage 4yo that has won two of his five starts, including last time out when winning over the mile on his first spin at Happy Valley. The selection moves up in grade under a 7lb penalty, and he does dive into deeper waters, however, he carries 14lb less at this level, and although he’s never been over this trip, on pedigree (sire has produced five winners at 9F+ in Hong Kong) and performance, he should relish stepping up to nine-furlongs for the first time.
Dangers:
11 Flaming Trillion has been placed his last two over the mile and although this will be his first try at this trip, he’s likely to sit in the first two in a race not offering an overly strong gallop.
9 Nicholson Returns dotted up over ten-furlongs at Sha Tin last time, but he’s equally adept at this trip, however he does go up in grade under a 10lb penalty, and all four career wins have been at Sha Tin.
2 Prime Minister ran over the top of them when winning over course & trip last time, and he is effectively 3lb better off here with connections booking a 10lb claimer, but ideally he’d wants a stronger gallop than he’s likely to see here.