International Racing: Happy Valley – Wednesday 30th October 2019

Eight races are carded for this season’s 15th meeting and it’s a nice, competitive card for punters to indulge themselves in. The best bet on the card lines up in the last race, in the form of CHEFANO, for his much-anticipated return after that incident-filled last start.

If finding a bit more luck this time, he will be very hard to beat. STRATHALLAN has dropped in class and in the ratings and he gets the services of the 10-pound claiming apprentice for his peak run after a rest. He presents a nice each-way opportunity for his followers, early on in the meeting. See more here.

Best Bet: CHEFANO (Race 8)
Value Bet: STRATHALLAN (Race 2)

Race 1 – 13:15
Selections: 5 – 3 – 1 – 7 – 2 
GOLDEN KID has had two runs back since the start of the season and he has produced an eye-catching turn of foot, in both. The recent improvement coincides with his continued drop in ratings and the drop into this class, culminating in an impressive finish last time out when coming from stone last to go down 0.75 lengths in 3rd. Sanna retains from another useful draw and he gets the blinkers fitted this time. With this being his peak run after a rest, he is going to relish the step up in trip where he has finished 3rd in his only attempt and on his current trajectory, he looks the one to beat. SKY GEM finished just 0.25 lengths behind the top selection last time out when finding traffic at the 350m mark before staying on nicely at the end and they meet on similar weight terms this time. He has slipped to a more competitive rating and that has been evident in his last few starts. He steps up to this trip for the first time and gets the services of Lyle Hewitson to do duty. With only the 10 career starts under his belt, he has plenty to come and must be considered. The top-weighted HAPPY HOUR has found three miserable draws to overcome in his last three starts and he drops into Class 5 company now, for his 16th outing. The son of Mastercraftsman should relish this step up in trip, despite the fact that he will have another tricky draw to negate. With that said, Purton takes the mount and he must go in, with the expected improvement. WICKER has also been dropping in the ratings and he is starting to show signs of a big run off his current mark of 27. He too is yet to try this sort of distance, but he looks well handicapped here and could pop up at a fair price.

Race 2 – 13:45
Selections: 3 – 4 – 8 – 12 – 10 
STRATHALLAN has been in need of both of those last two starts, having returned from a short absence prior to that. Both of those outings have come since dropping into this class of opposition and he has had a further 2-points shaved off since his latest effort. He has been a consistent performer over this trip and he will be looking to settle just off the early speed once again, where he seems best placed to mount his challenge. He found a wide draw in his penultimate start when finishing just over 3-lengths behind VERY SWEET ORANGE and with the 10-pound claiming apprentice taking the ride this time, he will line up a full 20-pounds better off at the weights with the latter, on their latest meeting. He’ll be cherry ripe for this and deserves plenty of respect. HONG KONG WIN has found another tricky draw to overcome, which makes things very tough in a race over this sort of trip. The son of Mossman is still learning the ropes, with this being just his 5th career outing. All four starts have come over this course and distance and Moreira has ridden him each time, but if his last two starts are anything to go by, the wide draws don’t seem to cause him too much fuss. He has plenty of gate speed and will be looking to find a prominent early position, to render the draw less of a factor. If finding a bit of luck in running, he should be involved in the finish. TRAVEL DATUK was clearly not in need of his last start when going down a head in 2nd place, after making his return this season. He found himself at the top of the betting boards on that occasion and he may have gone closer to winning, had the jockey not dropped his reigns at a crucial time. He drops back to a trip where he has featured prominently before and he will be a lot sharper with that important comeback run under his belt. Callan retains and he looks a likely contender from a fair draw. DEMONS ROCK has been dropping in the ratings and he looks very competitive off that current mark of 42. He showed his followers an impressive turn of foot last time out when flashing home late for a respectable 1.5 length beating over this course and distance. He would’ve needed that come back run and he’ll be a lot sharper for this outing. Grant van Niekerk jumps aboard the son of Requinto and he’s a worthy inclusion from a slightly improved draw.

Race 3 – 14:15
Selections: 5 – 8 – 3 – 4 – 1 
MAGNETISM has dropped 9-points in the ratings in his last 5 outings and that appears to have sparked the necessary improvement, coupled with the return from a short absence. He finished 3rd last time out, on his return and he clearly enjoyed being back in this class, where he has excelled before. From gate 2, Rispoli retains the ride and he’ll strip a lot fitter this time, with this being his second run after a rest. From off the early speed, he will be hoping for a genuine tempo throughout. If finding a clear passage through in the closing stages, he will be involved in the finish and could surprise. FLAME LILY has a solid record over this course and distance and he lines up here, on the back of a good victory over this track and trip last time. That win was overdue and he has been given a 6-pound penalty for that effort. Drawn wide this time, Moreira retains the ride he will be forced to search for a handy position and to avoid being caught wide in the process. If able to overcome the draw, he looks a realistic challenger at the business end. WINNING ENDEAVOUR needed his last start, when dropping into this class of opposition. That was over a slightly shorter trip and he did well to box on late. He will strip fitter this time and on his last start, he should appreciate the slight rise in trip despite the fact that he is yet to feature in two attempts over the 1650m. His luckless run with draws continues, but Sanna retains and he’ll be running on at the backend. CASA DE FORCA is back on the Turf after showing a fair amount of consistency on the All-Weather in his last three starts. He has dropped to a competitive mark of 57 and gets a further 10-pounds taken off his back with the claiming Chan taking the mount this time. From a useful draw, he steps up in trip and should be cherry-ripe for this outing. He looks a threat in this class and must be included.

Race 4 – 14:45
Selections: 2 – 10 – 12 – 4 – 8 
TANGMERE needed his last two starts after a 3-month absence and with him stripping slightly fitter last time, he showed the expected improvement. He drops in class for his peak run back and Purton takes the mount from pole position. The well-bred son of Frankel has been dropping in the ratings and his followers will be expecting him to deliver a winning effort very soon. In this class of opposition, conditions look ripe for him and he should be tough to beat. SHINING ON seems to have found some solid form since returning from a rest two starts back. He kept on well after an awkward start last time out when stepping back up to this course and distance and with a bit more luck in running this time, he’ll be looking to go one better. Moreira takes the mount from a reasonable draw and like the top selection, his winning turn is just around the corner. If the former fluffs his lines, he should be there to pick up the pieces. BUNDLE OF ENERGY has dropped to a very competitive rating and he has duly delivered some encouraging performances over this sort of trip. He lands an improved draw for this peak run after a rest and with a light mass to shoulder, he rates an imminent threat to the top two selections and must be included. STARLIT KNIGHT had a wide draw to overcome when making his return this season. He clearly needed the run and over the same course and distance, this time will be looking to make the necessary improvement to go into contention once again. His form prior to the end of last season was good enough for him to throw his hat into the ring once again and with the 10-pound claimer up this time, he rates a likely danger to the top three. He has featured prominently over this course and distance, which appears to be his best trip and if repeating his penultimate start, he’ll just about win this. The wide draw will complicate things, but with a bit of luck, he will be rallying home late and should be worth including.

Race 5 – 15:15
Selections: 3 – 1 – 7 – 11 – 5 
TOP SCORE has returned with a bit of interest this season, featuring prominently in both starts. He clearly enjoyed his return to this course and distance last time out, when boxing on strongly in the closing stages. Finishing just 0.75 lengths behind AURORA PEGASUS, he now lines up 4-pounds better off at the weights with the former, on that last run. That was his third start since dropping into this class, where he is well performed and he now lands a plum draw. He looks competitive off his current rating and combined with his course and distance record; he should be the one to beat. PRECIOUS SWEETIE has been in solid form leading up to the end of last season and he has followed through with a promising start to this term, going down a headfirst run back. That was over this course and distance, where he is an ultra-consistent performer. He should strip fitter this time and despite the fact that he has a tricky draw to overcome, he will be involved in the finish and must go in. BRIGHT KID has been dropping in the ratings and he has been knocking on the door for his first win in Hong Kong, in his last three starts. He clearly enjoyed his first outing at this track, which was also over today’s trip and from a decent draw again, he will be looking to make a big impression. Sanna regains the ride for the in-form Whyte stable and he must go in. THE ABBRAXAS finished in front of the top selection last time out, but he lines up 3-pounds worse off at the weights, with the replacement of the apprentice claim for a more experienced rider this time. He looks competitive off his current mark of 47 and from another useful draw, he looks a threat.

Race 6 – 15:45
Selections: 4 – 7 – 1 – 5 – 3 
PLANET STAR makes his return after a 4-month absence, over a track and trip where he has found some useful form. He will be looking for the early lead from that useful draw, where he likes to set the early fractions and with the 10-pound claimer up, he could be tough to catch if racing fresh. SHINING ACE has continued with that promising start to his career, taking only 3 starts to win since stepping up to this class. All three runs have come over this course and distance and despite the fact that he has been given a 6-pound penalty for that latest win, he still has plenty more to come. He lands another useful draw and rates a big threat. HELLO BEAUTY returns to Class 3 company after two modest runs against stronger opposition. The son of Sepoy only has 10 starts to his name, 7 in Hong Kong and he will still have plenty of scope for improvement. He featured prominently in this class-leading up to those last two outings and more of the same will be expected here. Moreira takes the mount, but he will have to overcome a tough draw this time. If doing so, he’ll go close. JING JING WIN has been dropping in the ratings and his form is starting to show some promise of a winning effort. He steps back up to the 1200m for his second run back, where he will relish the extra furlong. From a slightly improved draw, the cheek pieces are removed and he must be considered.

Race 7 – 16:15
Selections: 1 – 9 – 10 – 3 – 2 
INVINCIBLE MISSILE has been in very good form in recent times. He has started off this season on a good note, having won first-up before taking the 6-pound penalty in his stride in his follow up attempt to go close. With just the 9 starts to his name, the son of Smart Missile still has loads more to come and he seems to be striking up a good relationship with champion rider Zac Purton. From a wider draw this time, he will be kept away from the early speed and expected to run on with plenty of intent in the latter stages. He looks tough to beat here. UNIVERSAL GO GO gave a solid account of himself last time out, when returning from a 5-month absence from the course. Drawn 10 over the course and distance, he boxed on well in the closing stages to finish 2nd and he should strip fitter now. From an improved draw, he has his third outing since stepping into this class and having finished 2nd on both occasions, he will be looking to go one better here and must be considered. BEAR AGAIN has dropped in the ratings for some time and if his latest effort is anything to go by, he is starting to look threatening. He showed good improvement in that run, after his saddle slipped in his penultimate start – resulting in a poor showing. He has his second start at this course and the son of Var will be cherry ripe for this slight increase in distance. From a reasonable draw, he could provide place punters a fair amount of value. COBY BOY has also been dropping in the ratings and he put on a good show last time out, when running on strongly in the closing stages. He has his third run after a rest here and he will be cherry ripe for the slight step up to the 1650m. Yeung retains the ride and if building on that last start, he will be right there.

Race 8 – 16:50
Selections: 1 – 7 – 3 – 2 – 11 
CHEFANO lines up for his eagerly anticipated return, after that eye-catching last start. The report from the board room after that run makes for an interesting read and on further inspection of the replay, he can consider himself incredibly unlucky to have not won. No surprises then, that Zac Purton has claimed the ride and from an improved draw, he looks the one to be with and the best bet on the card. CLEMENT LEGEND started off this campaign where he left off last season, notching up another win to add to his solid career record. That was his first attempt since rising into this class and he did it impressively. Grant van Niekerk sticks with him for his hat-trick attempt and he lands another useful draw to aid his chances. A track specialist, he looks the biggest danger to the top selection. SPLENDOUR AND GOLD finished just behind the top selection last time out when also finding traffic at a crucial stage of his run-in. He lands a much wider draw this time but is 1-pound better off at the weights with the latter and Moreira retains. With a bit of luck in running, he is certainly in with a shout if the top one misses. SICHUAN DAR showed good improvement with the blinkers fitted last time out. He returns to his favoured course where he has notched up all three career wins from just 11 attempts. He has his peak run after a rest now and if repeating his last start, he could be a factor.