Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing at Happy Valley on Wednesday, June 24th.
There's nine races on the C-course for tonight's meeting, with the first set to jump at 8.45pm AEST.
Find Tim Geers' preview and betting tips below!
Happy Valley Racing Tips: Wednesday, June 24th
Best Bet: Race 6 - (9) Sky Darci
Best Value: Race 9 - (6) Victoriam / (2) Encore Boy
I was keen on (5) Sell My Sole on debut where he was very heavily supported in betting but only managed a midfield finish. That was at Sha Tin though and behind a very in-form horse in Yee Cheong Pegasus. That horse came out and won again last weekend so the form is very strong and Sell My Sole drops back to midweek racing at Happy Valley tonight, which he should find considerably easier. Moreira sticks, barrier 2 is all-important here on the C-course and I expect him to turn things around. Purton sticks with (1) Harrier Jet who won easily in this class over track and distance last start. A little bit of a different race shape tonight as he draws barrier 9 on the C-course, whereas he had absolutely everything in his favour last start from barrier 3. He should be very competitive again though. Expect (8) Regency Poet to be running home strongly from the back of the field, while (9) Travel Datuk is a nailed on place bet but is still yet to win from 41 starts in Hong Kong.
I’m taking the punt on (6) Lucky Quality hopefully missing the start here. He can do that, he’s a pig in the gates and if he blows it, he’ll find it very hard to win. Barrier 2 has the best success rate here over the 1650m on the C-course and Purton comes up with it on (8) King Dragon, who he jumps on for the first time. This horse was really knocking on the door for a win but his past couple of starts have been very disappointing. He makes his Happy Valley debut tonight, Purton goes on, draws perfectly and he gets his chance at $5.50. I was on (12) Lucky Missile at 30/1 last start and he just found one better, but it was a good run as I’d expected and he’s also edging closer to a win. His run two starts back was a forgive run and prior to that he ran well first up. So he’s improving with each start, he draws well in barrier 6 here and he should get his chance. I’ll stick with him again at $9.50 as that appears to be some value. (3) Focus just doesn’t run a bad race but barrier 10 really makes it tricky for him to win.
Value: (12) Lucky Missile $8.50
Purton jumps on the class-dropper (1) Total Power for trainer David Hall tonight. He’s into Class 4 for the first time and they waste no time booking the champ. He had a couple of runs at this track and distance in class 3 and wasn’t beaten all that far, so he should be competitive in this. He’s had a seven-week break and a couple of trials, which tells me they’ve set him for this tonight knowing he’ll get the class drop. Barrier 4 gives him absolutely every chance.
(9) Sky Darci looks as if he can win again here. He scored with ease last start and that backed up a horror show first up where he just got badly held up in the straight. He rises to Class 3 tonight and does take on a couple of in-form horses but he’s drawn well and should win again with even luck.
(6) Victoriam looks a decent each way bet here at $7.00. He’s been in great form in Class 3. He ran 2nd four starts back and has won two of his past three, with the one in between a forgive run when caught wide throughout. Purton sticks with him and although he’s drawn wide over the 1200m, barrier 10 actually doesn’t have a bad record. I’m hoping he can get tugged into the race in the three-wide line and come home over the top of what could be a decent tempo. (1) Shining Ace has a tremendous record at the track and distance, placing 10 of his 11 starts. Notably though, Joao Moreira jumps off him to take the ride on (10) Winning Method down in the weights. Winning Method ran 2nd to Shining Ace last start and meets him much better at the weights. He’s drawn well and will take some beating. (2) Encore Boy looks the value at $18. He’s run his past couple at Sha Tin but returns to Happy Valley tonight. He was going well before he went to Sha Tin and from the low draw tonight, he should definitely be included for Vincent Ho and leading trainer Ricky Yiu.
Value: (2) Encore Boy $18
