Happy Valley Preview by Xavier Blair for Wednesday Night 20th January.
Race 1 – POTTINGER PEAK HANDICAP
Turf ,”C” Course ,2200m
Rating 40-0
Not the best race we have seen here at Happy Valley but there is a winner to be found and the leading chance I believe is Kingston Temple (7) who won well over 1800m two starts back here at this course and then found the mile a bit short last start when not beaten far behind Energetic Boy. He has proven form over tonight’s 2200m and is clearly the one to beat. Decent Fellow (5) was beaten just over five lengths behind Kingston Temple at his most recent start but that run is best forgotten as he received a check at the 400m mark. Previously he had consistent 1800m stats and is a winner over 2200m. Galaxee (3) has fair form over this distance and his sole second placing did come in these conditions. One to keep an eye on is Western Star (2) who has been impressive on the training track and will definitely improve on his eight career runs for no placings from ideal draw.
Selections:
7-5-3-2
Race 2 – D’AGUILAR PEAK HANDICAP
Turf ,”C” Course ,1200m
Rating 60-40
Destiny’s Child (10) is running into some fitness resulting in good form. He has been up against the likes of Brave Kid, Perfect Gear, Blade Force and Lucky Amore; handy horses for a race of this nature. He should be good each way odds again and Alex Lai will have him in the firing line when they swing for home. Blink Again (6) is making his course debut after tackling some handy Sha Tin races. He was inconvenienced early behind Morning Green at Sha Tin two runs back and then copped a bad check and had mucus in his trachea last start behind the handy A Walk In The Park. Olivier Doleuze is up and he should figure in the placings tonight. Withallmyheart (11) won well over 1000m at this course three runs back and then has been close up in two recent runs, the latest over 1200m when a box seating third. He should get a similar run tonight from gate two. Just Chill (3) goes up slightly in weight but does have a good gate and has the chance to go one better from his second last week.
Selections:
10-6-11-8
Race 3 – MOUNT GOUGH HANDICAP
Turf ,”C” Course ,1200m
Rating 60-40
Fast Go (12) looks a good bet. Three runs back he stormed home to just miss behind Brave Kid at Sha Tin after being checked at the start. Last start here at Happy Valley behind Lucky Amore, he was caught three wide throughout but still managed to make ground where he was beaten just over three lengths. Douglass Whyte sticks with him and is sure to get a good look at the winners stall tonight. Super Pepper (6) was run down after leading two runs back behind Legend Express at Sha Tin and then put in a fair showing on the All Weather Track last start. He makes his course debut tonight and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Red Ruler (4) needs a lot of things to go right in his races and didn’t get any favours last start when caught five wide without cover. With a cushier run he can figure. The Rifle (8) was very disappointing last start and has been promising to deliver for a while now. From a good draw he should give them something to catch.
Selections:
12-6-4-8
Race 4 – HIGH WEST HANDICAP
Turf ,”C” Course ,1650m
Rating 60-40
The Untouchablelad (2) is my bet of the night coming off three consecutive placings on this circuit. He tackled the 1650m for the first time last start, settled well back, was last on straightening and motored home out very wide to finish second behind Record High. This is a handy horse in the making and he should break his maiden status tonight and go onto bigger things. The Witch’s Broom (1) is a great roughie and the value in the quinella with (2) as he should enjoy a drop in the ratings back to 60-40 after contesting some hot 80-60 races on this course. He only goes up six pounds for this drop in class and he will push forward and be hard to run down. Absolute Hedge (4) has had three runs for trainer John Size and should be hitting his straps tonight after a close up effort behind Record High last start. From gate one he should find the placings tonight. Perfect Ten (9) was a beaten favourite last start after receiving the perfect trail. Tougher gate tonight and he looks a place chance.
Selections:
2*-1-4-9
Race 5 – THE INDIAN RECREATION CLUB CHALLENGE CUP (HANDICAP)
Turf ,”C” Course ,1200m
Rating 80-60
Good race to kick off tonight’s quaddie where there are four excellent winning chances. Blade Force (12) was withdrawn last start after breaking free on the way to the gates. He is down in the weights and looks the likely leader. In saying that I doubt they will run him down with his light impost. Bolero (3) is making his course debut after back to back fourths over 1400m at Sha Tin. In three 1200m tries he has a win, a third and a fourth so there is no worries about him handling the slight drop in distance. Nugget Warrior (2) has been very consistent at this level and does drop slightly in weight for his third last start behind Loyal Army. Elegant Win (5) closed well behind the exciting Vaugirard here last start and is the testing material here.
Selections:
12-3-2-5
Race 6 – MOUNT CAMERON HANDICAP
Turf ,”C” Course ,1650m
Rating 80-60
Flying Supreme (11) has the form here through handy horses and gets in with a light weight in which he looks mighty hard to beat. He defeated Be My Song at Sha Tin at his first run this season in a 60-40 event and then went on to run well behind Legend and Legend Express on that course again. He steps out onto Happy Valley for the first time tonight but just 118 pounds he is a good each way prospect. Flying In (1) rattled home from the rear last start to place behind blow out winner Packing Buddy. Brett Prebble has chosen this Manfred Man gelding over two other rides which is a handy pointer. Champion Lad (7) has good form behind two handy recent winners in A Walk In The Park and Green Jacket. Last start this fellow was just collared late after giving a good kick and he should do so once again. Happy Ambassador (3) ran well last start over these conditions and is a chance to place again.
Selections:
11-1-7-3
Race 7 – THE POLICE CUP (HANDICAP)
Turf ,”C” Course ,1800m
Rating 80-60
Sticking with Vanquish Delight (9) as winning form is good form. Last season he kept improving with racing and he his heading in the right direction this season after winning well last start over this distance. He gets Prebble tonight and is a top chance. Yue Lu Treasure is in cracking form and David Hall sent out a message to his competitors that this fellow is only going to get better as the distances improve. The 1800m tonight is ideal after an astonishing 1650m win here last week. He is on the quick back up but this horse is going places. Ming’s Hero (3) could be the value here following a nice run behind Napa II at Sha Tin last start. Before that he caused a boilover here, winning in good style over 1650m. Easy Ahead (4) pushes forward and was nabbed on the line last start by Luminous. He will set a solid clip.
Selections:
9-2-3-4
Race 8 – MOUNT BUTLER HANDICAP
Turf ,”C” Course ,1200m
Rating 105-80
Island Super (9) absolutely rattled home last start from well back when making his course debut behind Norman Invader (7) and meets that fellow better at the weights. With the Happy Valley experience under his belt and a good draw he should be midfield and set to pounce. Norman Invader (7) fell in last start when the back markers just failed to pick him up. He has the gun draw again and if the swoopers leave their runs too late, he could easily skip clear. Sunny Golf (2) ran a great race last start behind Norman Invader where he worked hard in the lead but still fought on to go down by two lengths. From gate five tonight and a softer trip he can figure. Cars King Prawn (11) has had numerous chances to find the winners stall recently but does draw well and has light weight to figure in this harder race.
Selections:
9-7-2-11
Written by Xavier Blair
