HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

(Wednesday January 31st)

RACE 1: #7 Peace Combination, #10 Showing Character, #9 Nashashuk, #11 Lunar Zephyr

RACE 2: #1 Rock The Tree, #7 So Generous, #5 Winaswewish, #2 Savannah Wind

RACE 3: #7 Har Har Heart, #8 Never Better, #2 Golden Sleep, #5 Daring Heart

RACE 4: #3 London Master, #4 Dr Proactive, #2 Love Chunghwa, #5 Starlot

RACE 5: #4 The Golden Age, #5 Citron Spirit, #1 Dinozzo, #2 Marvel Hero

RACE 6: #12 Photon Willie, #10 Super Form, #6 Bullish Smart, #3 Gonna Run

RACE 7: #6 Super Fluke, #12 Jing Jing Win, #10 E-Super, #7 Country Melody

RACE 8: #12 Alcari, #5 G-One Lover, #3 Fantastic Feeling, #2 Extremely Fun

RACE 1: FA HUI HANDICAP

#7 Peace Combination is racing well at the moment. He is an infrequent winner, but with the right run from gate six, he will be right in contention. #10 Showing Character flew home out wide last start to just miss out. If he can repeat that run, once again from a wide gate, he will be hard to beat. #9 Nashashuk needed the run first-up. He “won” off a similar mark in June, a race from which he was later disqualified. It proves he is capable, though. #11 Lunar Zephyr is getting to a mark where he should be able to win again.

RACE 2: MONG KOK HANDICAP

#1 Rock The Tree has a good enough record in this grade and also over this course and distance. If he replicates his last run over the Sha Tin 2000m, he will be very tough to beat against this field. #7 So Generous drops to Class 5 for the first time. The son of Tavistock has raced over sprint trips, so stepping up to 1800m, he can improve drastically. #5 Winaswewish has only raced twice in Class 5 but ran strongly both times. He can figure back down in the cellar grade. #2 Savannah Wind gets Zac Purton back aboard and can improve once more.

RACE 3: SHAM SHUI PO HANDICAP

#7 Har Har Heart was very good two back, sprinting strongly from near the rear, but went forward last time out at Sha Tin and couldn’t finish off. If he can heads back from the wide gate, he can get into the finish. #8 Never Better has never won over this course and distance but he has run well regardless. He has an ideal draw and should get every chance to score another victory. #2 Golden Sleep ran well last start and can figure. #5 Daring Heart had things against last start and should be forgiven for that effort.

RACE 4: THE HONG KONG FOOTBALL CLUB CENTENARY CUP

#3 London Master drew wide last time out at Sha Tin and wasn’t disgraced behind Nice Kick. Into another inside draw and back to Happy Valley, he should be hard to pass. #4 Dr Proactive has been working his way into form. If he can continue his progression, he’s a chance. #2 Love Chunghwa has an awkward gate to overcome but he still looks capable of winning at the top of this grade. #5 Starlot mixes his form but could figure with the right run.

RACE 5: SIU SAI WAN HANDICAP

#4 The Golden Age kept on well last time out after leading when finishing second to Eagle Way in the G3 January Cup. He is heading to the Classic Cup and the Hong Kong Derby, but he can get a win on the road to those four-year-old races here. #5 Citron Spirit was out of luck in the January Cup. With a clearer run, he’s right in contention here. #1 Dinozzo is unsuited back to 1650m, but he is also entered for Sunday’s G3 Centenary Vase at Sha Tin. This appears a stepping stone ahead of the weekend. #2 Marvel Hero is another one unsuited back in trip, but he can finish in the placings.

RACE 6: SO KON PO HANDICAP

#12 Photon Willie is nearing a drop into Class 4, but before last start, he had been rounding into form and looking capable of breaking through. With even luck, he can get right into the finish here. #10 Super Form’s course and distance statistics are terrific. He comes in here off a freshen-up and it won’t take much for him to be able to figure. #6 Bullish Smart will go forward with Joao Moreira taking his first ride on the seven-year-old in over three years. He did partner the Soldier Hollow gelding to three wins early on his career and he should be around the mark here. #3 Gonna Run is always a chance in this grade.

RACE 7: SOUTHORN HANDICAP

#6 Super Fluke has been one of this season’s revelations, now with trainer Dennis Yip. He won his way out of Class 3 impressively and he performed well at his first test in this grade last time out. He has a good draw again and should get another chance at one more win before his form turns south. #12 Jing Jing Win has been slightly disappointing since returning with a victory. He has notable gate issues which could be even more profound here, should he miss the start. However, if he gets away on terms, he’s a definite player. #10 E-Super should relish the weight relief he gets here. #7 Country Melody cannot be overlooked.

RACE 8: TAI HANG TUNG HANDICAP

#12 Alcari has not raced since he was clearly outpointed by Win Beauty Win in the Griffin Trophy. However, the switch to Happy Valley could spark him up and he looks well placed with only 115 pounds in this spot. #5 G-One Lover only just won last time out but it was a good effort after being stuck wide. He gets claimer Matthew Poon aboard to offset the rise in weight and he can figure again. #3 Fantastic Feeling is at a mark where he can prove competitive, especially from a good draw. #2 Extremely Fun deserves consideration.