Happy Valley Racing Tips: Wednesday, May 26th

Odds Last Updated: May 26, 2021, 8:47pm (AEDT)

Keen to get involved early here.

Very interesting to see Zac Purton booked on (2) E Honey for trainer Casper Fownes. It’s well-known that these two had a blowup last September and Zac has barely ridden for him since, but they’ve since mended their relationship. On top of that, one of the biggest things I like in HK racing is Zac Purton going on a horse dropping in class. This horse actually dropped in class last start, but drew wide over the 1650m and sat wide throughout. Zac jumps on tonight, the horse drops back to 1200m and draws well in barrier 5. Plenty to like and given he wasn’t being beaten all that far in class 4 prior to last start, he should be very hard to beat with even luck here.

(10) Xiang Lan Qi draws barrier 1 over the 1200m which is a gold mine here at Happy Valley. Alexis Badel takes over from apprentice Alfred Chan and he might be the danger at $6.50.

(9) Viva Mama potentially leads this field. He was only beaten a length over 1200m at Sha Tin last start so he has to be a live chance.

(7) Smiling Face gets Moreira on. He was only fair last start but gets the big jockey change tonight.

Tip: (2) E Honey $3.85 Bet365

Betting Strategy: 2 units WIN E Honey

Odds Last Updated: May 26, 2021, 9:17pm (AEDT)

Odds Last Updated: May 26, 2021, 9:47pm (AEDT)

Odds Last Updated: May 26, 2021, 10:17pm (AEDT)

Basically backing the barrier draw here. (9) Moonluck comes up with barrier 1, which is a big advantage over 1200m at Happy Valley. He’s been knocking on the door in recent starts, and with Purton keeping the ride and drawing the inside gate, he looks the one to beat.

(4) Ice Legend makes his stable debut for Casper Fownes, having debuted under the care of David Hall. He’s trialled well up at Conghua leading into tonight and comes up with a good draw in barrier 3. I really would have liked Purton or Moreira to be booked as that would be a very good indication that he’s ready to win, but we wouldn’t be getting double figure odds in that case.

(6) Stormtrouper finished alongside Moonluck last start and didn’t really get all that much room in the straight. He wasn’t fully tested and probably should have finished a bit closer. He draws barrier 12 tonight which really hurts, but he’s not hopeless at all.

Tip: (9) Moonluck $3.00 Bet365

Value: (4) Ice Legend $11 Bet365

Betting Strategy: 1.5 units WIN Moonluck, 0.5 units WIN Ice Legend

Odds Last Updated: May 26, 2021, 10:47pm (AEDT)

(2) Fa Fa was my best value bet of the day last start and stormed home over the top of them to win. His run prior to that at Sha Tin was also good and he looks a horse on the up, so despite rising 2kg in the weights tonight, I’ll be sticking with him to win again.

The other horse I backed in that race was (1) Piano Solo, who ran 3^rd at his first start back in Class 4. He drops 1kg in the weights from that run and comes up with a soft draw once again, so with Purton sticking, he’s the horse I’ll be saving on.

Tip: (2) Fa Fa $3.30 TopSport

Saver: (1) Piano Solo $4.20 TopSport

Betting Strategy: 1.5 units WIN Fa Fa, 0.5 units WIN Piano Solo

Odds Last Updated: May 26, 2021, 11:17pm (AEDT)

I think we’ll see a good run from (8) Team Goodluck tonight. He’s had two career starts, both at Sha Tin. He ran 6^th on debut before finishing 3.5L off Jade Phoenix in 5^th last start. Rhapsody has come out of that race and won, and I think Team Goodluck will find this race a bit easier at Happy Valley. He also gets a couple more positives, those being barrier 1 and Vincent Ho replacing Vagner Borges. At each way odds, he’s a decent bet.

Very wary of (7) Who Loves The Ace for Casper Fownes. He did nothing on debut but pulled up with substantial mucus post-race. He was spelled immediately and returns tonight with one trial under the belt. Draws well in barrier 4 and the market will be interesting to watch.

(10) Casa Kingdom gets Moreira on board, while (3) Telecom Smart has run back-to-back 2nds so has to be included from the low draw.

Tip: (8) Team Goodluck $7.00/$2.45 Ladbrokes

Betting Strategy: 0.5 units E/W Team Goodluck

Odds Last Updated: May 26, 2021, 11:47pm (AEDT)

Odds Last Updated: May 27, 2021, 10:02am (AEDT)

Odds Last Updated: May 27, 2021, 10:02am (AEDT)

This is a really competitive race and the draw does us no favours here but (3) Equaletta Blitz is way over the odds at $15. He won over this track and distance three starts ago. Then he completely flopped out of the gates and lost all hope when he finished second last, and last start he was beaten a neck after going through the front of the gates before the race started. Stock Legend won that race – he then came out and ran 2^nd at his next start, while the horse that ran 3^rd (Transcendent) has since come out and won as well. Purton keeps the ride tonight and chooses to stick with him over Loving A Boom. Will need one of his best rides here from barrier 11 but with a bit of luck he can definitely finish in the money.

Interested to see how (12) Exuberant measures up here after bolting up in easier class last start. Goes down to 51.5kg with the rise in grade, hence Purton gets off as he can’t make the weight.

Tip: (3) Equaletta Blitz $15/$4.40 Sportsbet

Also Backing: (12) Exuberant $6.00 Bet365

Betting Strategy: 0.5 units E/W Equaletta Blitz, 0.5 units WIN Exuberant