Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for Happy Valley on Wednesday, April 22nd.
We have a nine-race card on the C+3 course tonight, and conditions are rainy, which often means there could be some blowout results as it doesn't rain too often in HK.
We've done our best to assess every race on the card below!
Happy Valley Racing Tips: Wednesday, April 22nd
Best Bet: Race 3 - (6) London Hall
Best Value: Race 2 - (1) Master Albert
Race 1
It could well cost me but I'm going to go against Purton in the first here. He takes the ride on (6) Kwai Chung Elite, which ran 3rd over 1400m at Sha Tin last start. He drops back to the 1200m tonight which he ran well at a few starts back. He's drawn a touch awkward in barrier 8 and of course gets a huge jockey upgrade, but it's not the type of race to be diving into a horse like him at $3.30. There's two at each way odds I'll be backing. (8) Great Son comes up with a plum draw in barrier 1. We'll get a good price tonight as Purton rode him last start and jumps off tonight. He was only beaten a length three starts back over 1000m here, and prior to that was actually a length behind Kwai Chung Elite over this track and distance. From that meeting he gets the advantage of a good weight swing and the plum draw. Barrier 1 has accounted for 26% of winners on the C+3 course over 1200m here, so it really is a big advantage. He's currently a $9.00 chance. The other horse I'll stick with is (9) Fox Cheunger who I was also on last start. He ran 3rd on that occasion after drawing wide in barrier 12 and finishing off down the outside. He won four starts ago over this track and distance on the C course (a similar rail position) with a similar draw. He's knocking on the door to win another one and tonight could be his night. He's $7.00. Something small on Great Son and Fox Cheunger. (12) Fortune Way is a blowout chance at $61.
Also backing: (9) Fox Cheunger $7.00
Race 2
Very competitive race. (1) Master Albert really appeals at each way odds. He's an $11 chance and if the pace is on tonight, he could well swoop home over the top. He put two wins together prior to last start, both over this track and distance, and then had no luck whatsoever last time out. He settled near the back from the wide gate and had to duck and weave his way through traffic in the straight, but just as he was warming up he ran into backsides. He still was the only horse in the race to clock a final 400m under 23 seconds, despite being stopped and steadied inside the final 100m. He draws wide again tonight which does make it hard on the C+3, but he looks to be going really well and is over the odds. Purton takes the ride for Richard Gibson first up with (5) Hero Time. That's an eye-catching jockey booking but the trainer has had just one winner from 58 starters over this track and distance this season. Similarly, Dennis Yip has had no winners from 72 runners over the track and distance this season. His horse (3) Starlight does find a very suitable race, back at his pet track and distance for the first time since dropping in class, but those two horses are both rated $5.00 and take up a large percentage of the market for very low percentage trainers. (9) Blade Racer draws barrier 1 and if he finds the top could go all the way.
(1) Master Albert E/W
$11
Race 3
I'd say we've got a bit of a market overreaction here with (8) Above at odds-on here. Yes, he comes off a 6L win at Sha Tin over 2000m but there is more to the story. There was a horse break down in that race and half the field were impacted, meanwhile Above made ground three-wide and avoided it all. He was visually impressive but his margin may have been a touch flattering. He jumps straight up from Class 4 to Class 3 because of that win. Further to all that, he actually ran 2nd to (6) London Hall two starts ago, beaten a length, and London Hall meets him 0.5kg better at the weights tonight. London Hall has since come out and won again since beating Above, and he gets the aid of the inside barrier here, just as he did last time. Now his best form has been at Sha Tin, but he wasn't terrible at his only start here at Happy Valley. I don't think there's any way Above should be $1.95 here while London Hall is $4.40. (3) Clement Legend has won four of his six starts over this track and distance and looks big odds at $21. Expect to see him ridden much more positive from a middle draw here. Something small on him at $21.
Value: (3) Clement Legend $21
Race 4
This is another very hard race. Will keep it short as there's only one horse I'll be playing on. (2) Star Majestic has found form in his past two starts, running 2nd here over track and distance two starts ago before finishing 3rd at Sha Tin last start. Seven of his eight career wins have been at this track and distance so he clearly loves it here. He draws the same gate as he did when running 2nd two starts ago and he'd just have to hold his form to be very competitive once more. At $6.50/$2.40 he's an each way bet but this race could go to anything.
(2) Star Majestic E/W
$6.50
Race 5
(5) Winning Ways was my best bet last start and it was a horror watch, held up most of the straight, beaten 2L. Prior to that he was trapped wide throughout when finishing less than a length, so he's certainly due some luck. He's not a horse that wins out of turn but he's racing really well and with any sort of luck he should go very close tonight. (9) Farm Bumper looks the danger to him. He won two starts ago in Class 5 and then was narrowly beaten when 2nd in that same race as WInning Ways last start. Winning Ways started $2.60 on that occasion and Farm Bumper $6.70, so respect the market SP's from that race. Barrier 2 certainly gives Farm Bumper his chance.
Race 6
(6) Blooming Spirit has won two of his past three starts, with a 3rd placing wedged between the two. He only cops a 1kg weight increase tonight and Vincent Ho chooses to stick wtih him. From a middle draw, he should be hard to beat once again. (7) Snow Airjet is rated a $5.50 chance but I think he's a millions chance. He drew gate 1 last start and had every favour, tonight he's out in barrier 9 and Alex Lai has ridden four winners all season. Happy to take him on big time here. (4) Pretty Bauhinia was my best value bet when he went around last start and it couldn't have been a more horrendous watch. He was strung up in traffic the entire race, then clipped heels at the top of the straight and nearly fell, throwing the rider off. Draws the same gate tonight but Karis Teetan takes the ride which is a positive. He's a chance again at $8.50 and that looks the value. No real knock on (2) Tangmere but he's a horse that's hard to catch. He'll get his chance again from barrier 4 with Purton aboard.
Value: (4) Pretty Bauhinia $8.50
(6) Blooming Spirit
$5.50
Race 7
Looks an interesting contest here between (2) Happy Good Guys and (4) Lucky Quality. Vincent Ho rode both horses last start and sticks with Happy Good Guys for leading trainer Ricky Yiu. He won over track and distance two starts ago before finishing 4th last start, but he probably should have finished closer but for a bit of an ordinary ride. He gets his chance to atone tonight with another good draw in barrier 2. Ho jumps off Lucky Quality and Purton jumps on for Casper Fownes and the big positive is he draws barrier 1. You can guarantee he will be looking to box seat here. It's a positive jockey change and it might prove all the difference. Interesting to see the tactics on (5) Jolly Convergence who raced wide without cover last start and did a good job to stick on for 4th. Alfred Chan keeps the ride so don't be surprised to see a more aggressive ride.
Race 8
Looks a nice race for (1) Dancing Fighter but the only question is whether you want to take $2.10 about a horse that completely bombed the start first up. He was my best bet on that occasion so I have to stick with him tonight, drawn a better gate with Purton taking over. If he jumps cleanly he looks your most likely winner. (5) Ping Hai Galaxy is racing in good form but does have a tricky barrier to overcome tonight out in gate 9. If there is any chinks in the armour of the favourite he will go very close. I think it's a case of if the favourite jumps, he wins.
(1) Dancing Fighter
$2.10
Race 9
Very good race to finish off with. (7) Classic Unicorn showed plenty of ability in his first two career starts, winning both, before going off the boil last preparation. He's been back out for a spell and has returned with two good trials and he draws the inside gate tonight. If he's fit enough first up and back at his best, he gets everything in his favour to return with a win here. (3) Allied Agility can be forgiven for last start. I was on him on that occasion and he was caught three-wide the trip and battled on for 4th. Jockey change tonight with the in-form Hamelin going on and with even luck, he should be right there in the finish. (4) Larson brings form behind the likes of War Of Courage, Wellington, Victoriam et al and he was a winner last start over the track and distance. Purton takes over from Schofield tonight and he's drawn awkward in barrier 10, but he's going to run very well again. Notably, Schofield takes the ride on (11) Special Stars for John Size instead of keeping the ride on Larson. I'd watch betting because it wouldn't shock me to see him turn his form around suddenly. Classic Unicorn and Allied Agility for me.
Value: (3) Allied Agility $7.00
(7) Classic Unicorn
$5.50
