Happy Valley Racing Tips: Wednesday, October 21st

He’s yet to win from 14 starts in Hong Kong but he gets his chance tonight, (1) Namjong Sings. He ran 2^nd here last start, beaten 0.5L and he gets Purton back aboard tonight in what looks a much easier race. He’s drawn a touch awkward and carries top weight but if he runs to his last start then he should be winning.

(12) Courageous Dragon looks the value at $11. He comes into this first up for 20 weeks without a trial. Chris So has made a very solid start to the season and he might have this one ready to run well fresh. He had substantial blood in his trachea back in June so the break should have done him good.

(8) Enchanting is on debut for John Size and Joao Moreira. Always a combination worth respecting, while (2) Street Scream draws barrier 1 and should be around the mark.

Top pick: (1) Namjong Sings $2.30 Pointsbet

Value: (12) Courageous Dragon $11 Bet365

Really liking the price about (2) Sweetly Baby here at $7.00. Joao Moreira keeps the ride for Casper Fownes and together, they strike at about 30% over the past 12 months. First up he drew gate 12 over the 1200m. They went back, found the rail and rode for luck. He was run off his feet when the sprint when on but he was working home OK before being held up over the last 200m. Steps up to the 1650m tonight which should suit him better and from barrier 7 he should be able to settle closer. Think he goes very close.

(3) Wonderful Tiger made a mid-race move last start, whipping around the field before going for home early. He was run over the top of but it was a good effort first up. Purton replaces Chad Schofield tonight and tactics will be interesting given he’s drawn 11. He’s not without a chance at $6.00.

The favourite is (12) Virtus Star who has run well in both starts this prep, finishing 2^nd both, but he remains a 21-start maiden so it’s hard to put him on top.

Top pick: (2) Sweetly Baby $7.00 bet365

Pretty keen on the favourite (2) Zhan Jiang Rocks who draws ideally in barrier 2 tonight after starting from gate 11 first up. He ran home in the fastest final 400m of the race to get within 2.6L of the winner in 3^rd.  We might see him a touch closer from the good draw tonight and if that’s the case, he looks the one to beat.

(1) Kiram drops in grade back into Class 4. He’s got a good record at this track and distance and Blake Shinn takes over the ride from Alex Lai tonight. I’d expect him to be able to go close in a race like this at $19.

Purton rode (4) Melbourne Hall to victory first up before jumping off last start. He gets back on tonight as the horse steps up to 1650m. He wasn’t far behind Zhan Jiang Rocks in 4^th last start so with Purton back on, he rates well here.

(8) Starlit Knight is a reasonable price at $9.00. He placed in three straight races over this track and distance at the end of last prep and he resumed with a 5^th placing two weeks ago. He drew barrier 1 that night and I thought the steer on him was very poor. The same jockey stays on tonight but draws off the rail a bit in 4. With a better steer, he can finish much closer.

Top pick: (2) Zhan Jiang Rocks $3.20 Bookmaker

Value: (8) Starlit Knight $9.00 Bookmaker & (1) Kiram $19 Bookmaker

Interesting little race. The favourite (12) Ardenode won two races in France but is yet to win from 18 starts in Hong Kong. His last three runs have been his best though, finishing 2^nd twice at the end of last season before an encouraging return first up. He gets his chance to break through tonight but it’s hard to be confident with a horse like him.

(4) Jazz Steed just couldn’t quicken enough off a slow tempo last start, only managing to run 4^th. The drop back to 1000m should ensure he gets a fast enough tempo to suit him and he should be right in the finish. Notably, he beat Ardenode by a length last prep but meets him 5kg worse off at the weights tonight.

(2) We The South gets Moreira on tonight and he looks a good chance second up. He led and could only manage 4^th first up and the winner failed at his next start, which is the query. He beat Jazz Steed last prep and meets him 4kg better off at the weights, so you’d suggest Jazz Steed might be up against it given the swing he gives to We The South and Ardenode.

(11) Sun Of Makfi trialled better than he did last prep so include him at $101.

Top pick: (2) We The South $4.20 Unibet

Looks a winnable race for (3) Murray’s Partners, who just settled a pair further back last start and it cost him. He put two wins together at the end of last prep and if Teetan can just have him one pair further forward in the run tonight, he should be able to get home over the top of them.

(4) Right Honourable was a pair further back than Murray’s partners and ended up finishing one position behind him too. Murray’s Partners clocked the faster final sectional of the two horses but with Purton going on Right Honourable tonight, he is in with a chance. Barrier 12 hurts though.

Moreira jumps on (2) Eligere who comes to Happy Valley for the first time in his career. He should find this a bit easier than the racing at Sha Tin and provided he can get a good run from barrier 10, he should be competitive.

(6) Daily Beauty draws barrier 1 but I thought he had his chance last start, while (1) Charity Wings drops back in grade and can be competitive.

Top pick: (3) Murray’s Partners $2.60 Unibet

Competitive race. We normally see horses in Hong Kong improve at their second preparation when they come from places like Australia, so we should see the best of (5) Harmony And Rich this prep. His recent trial suggests as much, where he scooted home by nearly 6L. He placed in three of his four starts in his first season in Hong Kong, so if he’s improved, which I think he has, then he should take some beating here.

(10) Fabulous Eight is always around the mark. He ran 4^th last start, which is the lowest he’s finished in his past seven starts. He makes his Happy Valley debut tonight and while barrier 11 doesn’t make it easy, he will no doubt be very competitive.

Barrier 12 won’t make it easy for (9) Heart Conquered either, but he can go in at big odds.

Top pick: (5) Harmony And Rich $3.00 BlueBet

(2) Real Bizzy draws well in barrier 3 and with Purton going on tonight, he should be right in the finish once again. He’s knocking on the door and tonight looks his chance.

(5) Lightning Steed loves it over this track and distance and despite copping a rise in the weights as a result of winning last start, he must be included again.

(6) Entrusted gets the cheekpieces applied for the first time and his run first up at Sha Tin was good. He looks the value in the race despite drawing wide in barrier 11.

(11) Magnetism can be thrown in at $67. He can improve third up from a spell, while barrier 1 means (7) Heavenly Thought will get a gun run.

Top pick: (2) Real Bizzy $3.50 Bet365

Value: (6) Entrusted $10 bet365

(7) Prince Of Gems won first up and was beaten 0.5L last start, so with barrier 1 tonight and the step up to 1200m, he should be going very close again. He comes to Happy Valley for the first time but provided he jumps cleanly and gets a touch of luck, he looks the horse to beat.

(5) High Rise Soldier ran 4^th to the very promising Sky Field first up at Sha Tin and should find this easier. He draws well in barrier 5 for Purton and he’s gone close in a number of similar races before.

(1) Californiadeepshot draws well in barrier 2 and gets a weight relief through the apprentice tonight. He’d probably just found his mark in the handicap so that weight relief should be beneficial.

Top pick: (7) Prince Of Gems $3.70 Bet365