Horse Racing Tips: Happy Valley Turf – Wednesday 18 December 2019

With just two meetings left before Christmas celebrations begin, followers will be looking to find a bit of extra spending money and there appear to be a few strong fancies this Wednesday that are worth having a wager on. 

HIGHLY PROACTIVE is the apparent best bet on the card and he lines up in the 5th. Having made a positive impression in both of his Hong Kong starts so far, he should have the scope for improvement and he’ll be tough to beat. The value comes two races later, in the 7th race, where PARTY TOGETHER will be looking to capitalise off his reduced rating. He’ll relish the slight drop in trip and should be worth following.

Best Bet: HIGHLY PROACTIVE (Race 5)
Value Bet: PARTY TOGETHER (Race 7)

Race 1 – 12:45 – Class 5 – 1650m
Selections: 8 – 1 – 6 – 2 – 5 
KWAICHUNG BROTHERS has given two good accounts of himself, since returning from a 3,5-month absence two starts back. Both starts came over this course and distance and he may have gone close in his latest, had it not been for the traffic he found at the 500m. He should win soon off his current rating and from a reasonable draw, he looks tough to oppose here. CALLING THE SHOTS finished just behind the top selection last time out when taking up the running from a tough draw. He lands the same draw here but goes to post 1-pound better off with the former on that last start. Moreira takes the mount on this son of Exchange Rate, for his fourth start since dropping into this class and he should win soon. SKY GEM has also dropped to a competitive rating and he clearly benefitted from having the tongue tie fitted last time out when showing good improvement. He finished fast, from well off the speed in that run and more of the same can be expected from another tricky draw here. He finished third in his only attempt over this trip, so he should enjoy the shorter distance here. Shinn retains and he must go in. ASSOCIATION FALLS has been in good form in his last three starts. Had it not been for a lack of galloping room in his last start, he may have gone a lot closer. Drawn well again, Leung retains the ride and if repeating his penultimate start over this course and distance, he will be right there.

Race 2 – 13:15 – Class 4 – 1000m
Selections: 10 – 11 – 1 – 4 – 8 
HAPPY GOOD GUYS showed up well last time out when making his 7th career appearance. He finished just 1,5-lengths off the winner (FLYING GENIUS) on that occasion and he lines up over the same course and distance, 9-pounds better off with the latter. From another useful draw, he looks hard to oppose and should be tough to beat this time. PRAWN YEAH YEAH finished right behind the top selection in both of his last two starts and he is also weighted to finish in front of the conqueror of his latest outing. He has a bit of work to do in order to finish in front of the top selection, but he is in good form and he should be right there at the business end. FLYING GENIUS, as mentioned, beat the top two selections last time in just his second career outing. That was over this course and distance and he has a much tougher draw to negate this time. He was penalised 8-points in the ratings for that win and things look a lot tougher for this son of All Too Hard. He will certainly have scope for more improvement and despite the fact that he may not win, he should be right there. Look out for the betting movements on both of ARES and WILD WEST WING, who have their debuts here.

Race 3 – 13:45 – Class 4 – 1650m
Selections: 6 – 1 – 3 – 4 – 5 
THUNDER STOMP enjoyed returning to this course and distance last time out, after a poor performance on the All-Weather in his penultimate start. He had a wide draw to overcome in both and he now gets rewarded with a much-improved draw this time. His followers can expect a repeat of those front-running tactics he used last time and off his current mark of 58, he rates a major threat with Moreira taking the ride. ALL YOU KNOW is a class dropper here and he’ll line up over his favourite course and distance, in weaker company. He lands a plum draw once again and Badel jumps back aboard, having won on him in his only other engagement. With the expected improvement, he looks a major threat at this level and must be included. BEST ALLIANCE enjoyed the step up to this trip last time out, after finishing just off them over shorter. He lands a tricky draw here, but he has continued to drop in the ratings and his winning turn appears imminent. With Hewitson retaining, he should be involved in the finish. DREAM WARRIORS won his last start and received a 5-pound penalty for his efforts. Drawn wide today, he will find things tougher if not for a bit of luck in running, but Teetan knows him well enough. A son of Smart Missile, he looks progressive and must be included.

Race 4 – 14:15 – Class 3 – 1200m
Selections: 4 – 3 – 11 – 2 – 1 
BALLISTIC KING went close to following up with another win last time out, after a landing in the winner’s enclosure in his penultimate start. Both runs came over this course and distance and despite the wider draw this time, he looks well set up to win again. Purton jumps aboard for the first time and from a prominent early position, he looks tough to oppose. FEARLESS FIRE found no luck in running last time out when losing ground at the start before bumping another runner when becoming crowded for room. Having raced keenly thereafter, he was caught out wide for the remainder of his run and his effort amounted to a modest finish. From a plum draw this time, he gets the blinkers fitted for the first time and Moreira takes the ride. On his prior form, he looks the biggest danger to the top selection. HAPPY WARRIOR was not disgraced in his latest effort when stepping up to this class and making late headway for just a 1,50-length defeat. He has clearly enjoyed dropping to this trip in his last two starts and from an even better draw this time, he must be included with Chadwick retaining the ride. PRANCE DRAGON is a class dropper, returning to a level where he has picked up 2 wins from 8 appearances. He gets the services of de Sousa, from a much-improved draw and he lines up just 2-pounds heavier than he was when picking up his latest win over the same course and distance. With that in mind, he must go in.

Race 5 – 14:45 – Class 3 – 1200m
Selections: 5 – 1 – 2 – 6 – 3 
HIGHLY PROACTIVE had every chance last time out, when boxing on well for a just a 0,5-length beating. That was just his second starts here when having the tongue tie fitted after a solid third on his local debut. He still has plenty more to come and Karis Teetan should have a nice winning chance on him. If overcoming the draw, he looks to be one of the better bets on the card. SILVER FIG reverts back to the Turf, after three modest efforts on the All-Weather. This will be his first outing at this course, but he has picked up 3 wins over this trip, two of which were on the Turf. From a much-improved draw, he gets the services of Sylvestre de Sousa and he should be a main contender. MY ALLY finds another tricky draw to overcome, but he will be looking to go a little handier this time after those patient tactics failed last time out. He has the gate speed to overcome the draw and with the inform van Niekerk in the irons this time, he will be looking to go one better than the second he landed on this son of Siyouni, the last time the two were engaged. JADE THEATRE has dropped further in the ratings and he finds an improved draw this time, with Purton up. He knows him well, having ridden him on 7 previous occasions, for 2 wins and they have a nice opportunity to make some improvement here.

Race 6 – 15:15 – Class 4 – 1200m
Selections: 6 – 1 – 3 – 7 – 4 
REGENCY POET was impressive on debut when finding betting support and going within a length of the winner. He was handy throughout that run and kept on well in the closing stages. Purton takes the ride this time and the son of Poet’s Voice should have many lengths of improvement to come. Drawn well, he looks tough to oppose. SPLIT OF SECOND finished just behind the top selection, in just his second start since dropping back into this class where he has landed both of his wins to date. He has landed another tough draw to overcome, but he comes from off the speed and with a bit of luck in running, he will be making late headway and must be included. HAPPY ALUMNI went close to winning on his return to racing last time out, after a 7-month absence from the course. He found traffic close to home in that run and may have finished a lot closer, had he found a path through. Drawn well again, Moreira jumps aboard the son of Starcraft and he will strip a lot fitter this time. If building on that latest effort, he will make a race of it. SUPER WINNER finished just behind the latter last time out and he lines up 3-pounds better off at the weights here. From a similar draw, Teetan takes the mount having ridden him once before and with the expected scope for improvement, he should go closer here.

Race 7 – 15:45 – Class 3 – 1650m
Selections: 4 – 2 – 10 – 3 – 11
PARTY TOGETHER has improved as he has dropped further in the ratings and he may have gone a lot closer than that 1,75-length defeat last time, had it not been for an interrupted final 400m dash. He finds a similar draw this time and gets the services of a more experienced rider. Over the slightly shorter trip, the son of Poet’s Voice looks set for a big assault on the winner’s box and he looks tough to beat. JOLLY HONOUR followed up that win in his penultimate start, with a very good run last time out. Despite being a bit slow away, he did well to rally late to finish within half a length of the winner. Shinn retains the ride from a wide draw this time, but he drops back to his preferred trip and having recently shown that he may be a touch in front of the handicapper, he must go in. BEAR AGAIN has also landed on a competitive looking mark after dropping 9-points in his last 5 runs. He made late headway over this course and distance last time out and from a plum draw here, he will be a lot closer to the front. Badel jumps aboard for the first time and the South African son of Var looks a threat and must be included. HAR HAR HEART is another contender who has fallen in the ratings. He had excuses last time, when blood was discovered in his trachea post-race. From another good draw, Karis Teetan jumps aboard and if things go according to plan this time, he will be worth including.

Race 8 – 16:15 – Class 3 – 1200m
Selections: 6 – 3 – 1 – 9 – 5 
AMAZING STAR has clearly thrived since changing stables back in July this year and he delivered a powerful finish last time out, to land a comfortable 5-length win over this course and distance. He jumps back into Class 3 level here, but Purton sticks with the ride and he will be very tough to beat if repeating that latest effort. PLANET STAR has been knocking on the door for some time now. He has his peak run after a rest, after two good runs over this course and distance since returning from a 4-month absence. Teetan takes the mount from a reasonable draw and on his current form, he must be included. PERFECT GLORY has been right there in his last two starts, since dropping into this class. Having been hampered at the 200m last time, he may have also found the 1650m a touch on the far side and he will relish dropping back to the 6-furlongs. He has landed both wins in Hong Kong over this course and distance and he will be looking for a bit more luck in running here. Moreira takes the ride and they must be included. MR PICASSO followed up that Class 4 victory in his penultimate start, with a solid run at this level last time out. He lands another tricky draw, but he has the gate speed to go handy and if landing there with minimum effort, he will be a big player in the closing stages and he must be included.

Race 9 – 16:50 – Class 2 – 1200m 
Selections: 4 – 7 – 12 – 2 – 1 
BIG PARTY is a three-time winner from four starts, with all three of his career victories coming over this trip. He went close to winning in his last start when finding traffic at a crucial stage, in only his second start since rising to this class. He has been strongly fancied in all of his last four outings and the same appears likely once again. Moreira takes the mount from another useful draw and he looks tough to oppose. MULTIMILLION gave a fair account of himself last time out when stepping into this class for the first time. Beaten 5-lengths behind one of the best sprinters in Hong Kong, he now gets the services of the more experienced Karis Teetan in the irons. With this being his peak run back this season, he will strip a fitter horse and despite the fact that the 6-furlongs is not his preferred trip, he should go very close here. STRONGER was not disgraced in his local debut last time when keeping on well over the final 2-furlongs to find the second box. That was enough to warrant a rise into this stronger class and the son of Not A Single Doubt should have more to come. He is a three-time winner from just 8 starts so far and from a reasonable draw, he must go in. SPEEDY KING has been in good consistent form of late and his winning turn shouldn’t be too far off. He has a decent record over this course and distance and from another plum draw, deserves plenty of respect.