M Unicorn was a prolific winner last season and can get back to winning ways. (Picture: HKJC).
Happy Valley Wednesday formguides and selections
Tim Carroll (At The Races)
It was a ‘Magnificent Seven’ winners for Tim on Saturday and he returns with three more best bets for Happy Valley on Wednesday.
This Wednesday sees a competitive nine-race card from Happy Valley getting underway at 10.35am – live on Sky Sports Racing. The feature of the meeting is race 9, the Class 2 Sports Handicap, over 6 furlongs, with prize-money of more than £284,000
Now onto this week’s selections.
Race 1: Class 5 Bowrington Handicap (12:35pm SA Time) (1 mile)
4 CALIFORNIA MOXIE is a fourteen-start maiden that was well supported when having his first spin in a Class 5 last time, finishing fourth over 1 mile 2 furlongs. He was sent straight to the front that night but didn’t see out the trip, which was his first try over the distance. He’ll appreciate dropping back to the mile having had just the one try over this trip when picking up the bronze in a stronger race than this last December. Whilst he is still toward the top of the handicap, he does drop a further 2lbs here, and Hugh Bowman sticks solid having been on top for the first time at his most recent start.
Dangers:
2 En Perfecto has been unplaced in eight starts, but he takes a drop in grade and didn’t run too badly when in fourth here when last seen on this track in January and will find the waters a tad calmer at this level.
9 Harry’s Hero bombed last time but he’s the only recent winner in the contest having been successful over 7 furlongs at Sha Tin the start prior and he ran better than the bare result when last seen on this track having been set alight early.
8 Windicator Family is a long-standing maiden but in the context of the contest he has run well enough in defeat his last two when doing his best work late over 7 furlongs at Sha Tin and he drops a further 2lb in the handicap with a first-time visor fitted.
Race 2: Class 3 Percival Handicap (105pm) (5 furlongs)
2 YOUTHFUL SPIRITS arrives having been unplaced over 6 furlongs last time but he’s a very quick horse that is far better suited to the minimum trip. The selection has just the one local success to his name, which came over course & trip from a 12lb lower mark last June. Now normally you’d steer clear of one so far above their last winning mark when that win was some time ago, but he has been very consistent and often in stronger races than this. It must be said that apart from the selection, there are no natural leaders here, and if he’s left alone on the front, he should take some catching.
Dangers:
6 Watch This One makes his local debut having won a Gold Coast All-Weather maiden on his only start in Australia and he has been tuned up for this with two recent wins at the trials, thus a market watch is advised.
1 Celestial Colours, who will be making his return after a setback having not been seen since October, but he had run well in defeat all three starts late last year, and he did win on debut and after a similar layoff when with Ciaron Maher in Australia.
5 Sparkling Fellow, who was a twice winner over similar trips at a lower level in Australia, has run with promise both local starts and you can tact some on for his most recent effort when fourth at Sha Tin having not enjoyed the rub of the green, but he has been ridden to close late at both starts and may need some luck.
Race 3: Class 4 Wong Nai Chung Handicap (135pm) (6 furlongs)
1 POWER KOEPP hasn’t won for nearly two years, which is hardly a strong selling point, but he’s now 19lb below his last mark having only been beaten 1.25 lengths at his most recent start when dropped into this grade. The selection will be having his first start for Mark Newnham, a yard having a wonderful second season and a trainer that has been responsible for getting a good tune out of a few castoffs. The draw in 2 should ensure the son of Equiano has all the favours, and Hugh Bowman is a notable rider booking.
Dangers:
5 Excellent Peers hasn’t been seen in the winner’s circle since November 2022, but he continues to descend the handicap having not finished outside the top four at his last four starts, all over course & trip, and he’s far better drawn here than a couple of those.
8 Good Prospect is a seven-start maiden that looks a winning in waiting after finishing runner-up over course & trip at his last two, but he does draw high and will probably be ridden for luck from out there.
9 Young Horizon is hard to catch, but he ran well in defeat when third over course & trip last time, he has no weight on his back with Ellis Wong claiming 7lb, but he once again draws high is will probably be ridden cold, similar to last time.
Race 4: Class 4 Craigengower Cricket Club Cup () (205pm) (6 furlongs)
1 PERFECT GENERAL is a low mileage 4yo that won over course & trip in September at just his second start and has been solid in defeat in three subsequent spins. The selection had genuine excuses when picking up the bronze, although he was. a tad underwhelming when fourth here last time as a beaten favourite. However, he was only beaten 1.25 lengths that night and the winner has since come out and gone in again. The Caspar Fownes 4yo likes to roll forward and he did lead when he won, thus the draw in 4 looks ideal.
Dangers:
5 Loveisintheair, who represents the leading yard of John Size, was doing his best work late without threatening when midfield on debut over course & trip earlier this month and is likely to be sharper for the run.
10 Telecom Power, who won two from three in Australia, is yet to break his local duck after fourteen starts but ran a local best last time when runner-up over course & trip & a similar performance under first-time booking, Andrea Atzeni, would see him in the mix.
2 Our Lucky Glory defied a double figure quote when runner-up over course & trip last time and he was two spots in front of the selection that day, but he’s on 2lb worse terms and will have to overcome a high draw.
Race 5: Class 4 Lockhart Handicap (235pm) (1 mile)
9 SUNDAYS SERENADE, who can be forgiven an unplaced effort last time when planted wide without cover, is a ten-start maiden, but this will be having his first spin on the city track, and he has run with promise in defeat several times at Sha Tin. Prior his last start he had been knocking on the door, finishing runner-up his previous two in races that ran deeper than this, and races that have produced subsequent winners. The Jamies Richards 4yo is no leader, but they were able to ride him closer to the pace a couple of times recently, and he looks worth a play in what is an open contest.
Dangers:
2 Red Majesty is a veteran that has recorded nine wins over course & trip and although those wins are few and far between these days, he’s only just recently dropped down to this level having run well in defeat last time & he drops another 1lb in the handicap.
5 Blue Baron is a difficult one to line up as he hasn’t been seen since finishing fourth over 6 furlongs on debut in November at Sha Tin, a race that has produced plenty of winning form, but he has looked anything but sharp in two recent trials, however a market watch is advised.
1 Casa Rochester, who won his only start over 7 furlongs in New Zealand, has been unplaced all four local spins, but he ran better than the bare result last time when doing his best work late, which was his first try over the mile, and he has scope for further improvement.
Race 6: Class 4 Hong Kong Football Club Centenary Cup (Handicap) (305pm) (5 furlongs)
4 PARENTS LOVE was runner-up over course & trip last time when in behind Plentiful, and he was beaten 2 lengths that night, but he should be able to turn the form around here. With connection booking a 3lb claimer, he meets his rival on a massive 12lb better terms, and any numbers person worth their salt will know that that alone should be enough to turn the form around. But not only that, the selection has plenty of pace and had to work across from a high draw last time, but he has drawn the plumb 1 gate here and although there’s a few pacey types in the contest, he should be able to grab his favoured front running spot easily enough.
Dangers:
7 Plentiful, who has been a big improver recently, had a few of these in behind when winning over course & trip last time and he did win with authority that night, but the handicapper hasn’t missed him, handing out a 10lb penalty.
8 Super Sixty goes up 5lb having won over six-furlongs last time and although he drops back in trip, they will go quick here, and he should be picking up the pieces late.
2 Northern Fire Ball is a low. Mileage 3yo that won over 6 furlongs in December and although he’ll be trying the minimum trip for the first time, he’s a pacey type & with the 7lb claim, he is effectively only 1lb above his winning mark.
Race 7: Class 3 Canal Handicap (340pm) (1 mile)
1 M UNICORN goes from the top of the handicap but there’s only 11lb top to bottom. The selection is yet to get on the board during the current campaign, but he was a five-time winner last season with four of those wins coming over course & trip and he arrives after a strong effort in defeat, beaten a nose here last time by an unexposed type that he was conceding 7lbs. The draw is 4 looks helpful, and Hugh Bowman, who I think is in for a good night, sticks solid having ridden the selection for the first time this season at his most recent start.
Dangers:
2 Excellence Value, who was a twice winner from fourteen starts in Australia, broken his local duck at just the fourth time of asking when having his first try over course & trip last time and although he goes up 6lb for that and into a stronger Class 3, he could have more to offer.
8 Devas Twelve won over 7 furlongs at Sha Tin at a level below this in January and although he’s been unplaced all three goes in this grade, he hasn’t been beaten far a couple of times, and he looks the likely leader in a race offering no more than a. moderate gallop.
10 Sturdy Ruby moves up in grade under a 6lb having won over course & trip last time and although he dives into deeper waters, he has shown improvement this campaign and he will carry 12lb less at this level.
Race 8: Class 3 Tin Lok Handicap (415pm) (6 furlongs)
9 PRAWNS ELEVEN, who was a thrice winner in Western Australia, has just the one local win from seventeen starts but he’s only 3lb above his winning mark and has been placed in two of his last three including last time out when runner-up over course & trip with Gallant Valour one spot back in third. The selection came from off the pace that night in a race that was largely dominated by the pace runners, but he’ll get a decent gallop to aim at here, which should see him afforded every opportunity.
Dangers:
1 Wonder Kit hasn’t won since November 2023, but he has mostly been campaigning at a level above this and will find this a bit more to his liking from the 1 draw.
4 Gallant Valour, who has won three times over course & trip during the current campaign including at his penultimate start, was third here last time when running from a mark in the 70’s for the first time & although now higher in the handicap, he draws stall 4 again (same as last two) and should once again have all the favours.
6 Regal Gem, who was a twice winning juvenile for Tony Coyle last year, makes his local debut having looked sharp at the trials, the most recent of which he won, and from an opening mark of 68, a market watch is strongly advised.
Race 9 Class 2 Sports Handicap (450pm) (6 furlongs)
5 BEAUTY DESTINY is a 5yo that’s been progressing at a rate of knots this season and arrives having won four of his last five starts, including last time out when winning with a bit in the locker over course & trip. The selection has been handed a 9lb for that, and he does move up in grade, but he carries 10lb less at this level. He does have what looks a tricky draw in 10, but he’s a hold-up type that would be ridden from the second half of the field no matter the draw, and he’s two from two from stall 10. Andrea Atzeni, who was on board both selection and Aurora Lady for their most recent wins, sticks with the selection.
Dangers:
3 Aurora Lady is another in top form and arrives with a 7lb penalty having recorded his fourth course & trip win this season last time, and from he’s perfectly drawn in 1 given he’ll like to lead.
7 Swift Ascend has won three of his six starts this season and whilst he arrives on the back of two unplaced efforts, he certainly hasn’t run poorly, and he’ll enjoy some weight relief now that he moves back up in grade.
2 Full Credit, who ran with plenty of merit to place down the straight course over 5 furlongs at Sha Tin last time, is better suited to this trip and although he does most of racing at Sha Tin, he did hit the frame his only start here last November.
WEDNESDAY’S PLACEPOT
Today’s Tote Place Pot will be races 4 through to 9. All up we will be playing 54 combinations (3x3x1x1x3x2), which will cost £5.40 for a 10p stake and so on. Good luck.
LEG 1 – 1 PERFECT GENERAL 5 LOVEISINTHEAIR 10 TELECOM POWER
LEG 2 – 2 RED MAJESTY 5 BLUE BARON 9 SUNDAY’S SERENADE
LEG 3 – 4 PARENTS LOVE
LEG 4 – 1 M UNICORN
LEG 5 – 1 WONDER KIT 4 GALLANT VALOUR 9 PRAWNS ELEVEN
LEG 6 – 3 AURORA LADY 5 BEAUTY DESTINY
TIM’S BEST BETS (scale 1-5 points)
11.35am HAPPY VALLEY
2pts each-way POWER KOEPP
1.05pm HAPPY VALLEY
3pts win PARENTS’ LOVE
1.40pm HAPPY VALLEY
2pts win M UNICORN
