HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

(Wednesday June 27, 2018)

RACE 1: #1 Bo Duke, #3 Penzance, #7 Rock The Tree, #11 Holy Unicorn

RACE 2: #4 Split Of A Second, #8 Deal Maker, #6 Jolly Bountiful, #10 Fantastic Fabio

RACE 3: #5 Ocean Roar, #10 Oriental Elite, #7 Lucky Lucky, #1 I'm The Conquist

RACE 4: #1 General Dino, #2 Sichuan Boss, #8 Little Island, #5 Forever Posh

RACE 5: #4 Insayshable, #1 Doctor Geoff, #7 Winning Faith, #2 Litterateur

RACE 6: #6 General Iron, #8 Smart Declaration, #2 Dragon Pioneer, #5 Dream Come True

RACE 7: #6 Eagle, #10 Double Valentine, #8 Iron Boy, #5 Rockit

RACE 8: #4 Hang's Decision, #1 Multi Facets, #10 Intrepic, #5 Sleep Education

RACE 1: PO TOI HANDICAP

#1 Bo Duke ran well enough at his first start in Class 5 last start. He should be suited up to 2200m, especially if there is not a great deal of speed and he is able to roll early. Sam Clipperton has won on the horse twice and he’s a top chance of making it three here. #3 Penzance is likely to jump favourite off two strong runs at 1800m. He steps up to this trip for the first time, which should suit the son of Pentire, and he’s a threat. #7 Rock The Tree will get back and run on, but he’s at a mark where he can break through at any time. #11 Holy Unicorn will go forward and should be in the mix for a long way.

RACE 2: PENG CHAU HANDICAP

#4 Split Of A Second is right on the cusp of a victory and Zac Purton is a significant booking. He should get every chance to make his breakthrough here. #8 Deal Maker made a big step forward at his first start for Benno Yung. He looks to have turned the corner and he’s a chance again. #6 Jolly Bountiful gets into a better draw and perhaps that could be the catalyst to him finally scoring a second win. #10 Fantastic Fabio has a poor Class 4 record but he has been performing better of late and he could finish in the placings.

RACE 3: NINEPIN GROUP HANDICAP

Greybeard #5 Ocean Roar is an old marvel, a 10-time winner in Hong Kong and still looking capable of winning again before retirement looms next season. His trainer Almond Lee needs two more winners before the end of the season to retain his licence and he looks to be coming right once again. With only 111 pounds on his back thanks to Victor Wong’s claim, he deserves respect here. #10 Oriental Elite has shown glimpses of ability and should be finishing off strongly. #7 Lucky Lucky has placed at his last two and should be around the mark again. #1 I'm The Conquist has drawn well and can run a better race.

RACE 4: LANTAU ISLAND HANDICAP

#1 General Dino has only run in Class 4 once, running home strongly for second over this course and distance. He has drawn well this time and he should get every chance to score a first Hong Kong win. #2 Sichuan Boss hasn’t been beaten far in recent starts and Joao Moreira takes his first ride on the five-year-old. He’s the main threat. #8 Little Island has drawn awkwardly but he should end up in a forward position. He’s some chance under Jack Wong. #5 Forever Posh can improve second-up with the step up in trip.

RACE 5: THE MANAWATU RACING CLUB CHALLENGE TROPHY

#4 Insayshable arrived in Hong Kong with some solid Irish form and he franked that first-up in December when running home well for third to Singapore Sling. Insayshable loomed as a likely Four-Year-Old Classic Series horse – Singapore Sling, for one, went on to win the Hong Kong Classic Cup in February – but he suffered an injury shortly afterwards and was sidelined. He returns now after some decent trials and he looks capable of a big run fresh. #1 Doctor Geoff was only just beaten by promising galloper Rise High last start. He’s rarely far away and he’s a big threat here. #7 Winning Faith can keep rising through the grades, while #2 Litterateur finally looks to have settled down and that means that he can take his rating to a new high.

RACE 6: LAMMA ISLAND HANDICAP

#6 General Iron isn’t the most straightforward horse, but he has talent on his day. He’s run well in his last two starts and, with a good gate, he gets his chance to break through here. #8 Smart Declaration rarely runs a bad race over his course and distance. He’s another who can capitalise on a good draw. #2 Dragon Pioneer still looks to have the ability to head higher and he deserves respect. #5 Dream Come True has improved at every run in Hong Kong to date. He should be somewhere near the speed and he can stick on.

RACE 7: GRASS ISLAND HANDICAP

#6 Eagle has run fairly in three starts to date. The Foxwedge three-year-old, a two-time juvenile winner in New South Wales, trialled terrific last week and gets the blinkers along with the switch to Happy Valley. He’s a leading player in this spot. #10 Double Valentine disappointed back to 1000m last start but he’d been running well at this trip before that. He’s drawn to take advantage. #8 Iron Boy is another who should be suited from a soft draw, even if he is probably better at Sha Tin. #5 Rockit ran a far better race second-up and now gets the blinkers on. He’s a place chance.

RACE 8: CHEUNG CHAU HANDICAP

#4 Hang's Decision broke the 1400m track record at Sha Tin this week last year when he was up in Class 2. He’s been racing well of late and the blinkers might just be the rev-up he needs. The draw is a concern, but even still, he’s a big threat. #1 Multi Facets won well two back and ran another nice race last time out. He still gives the impression he’s not quite there, either, so he shapes as a Class 2 prospect for next season. #10 Intrepic gets Zac Purton aboard for the first time and he deserves respect. #5 Sleep Education has to contend with the outside draw but he should relish this course and distance.

BET ON HONG KONG RACING WITH THETOTE.COM