Hong Kong Wednesday: Picks, analysis, free PPs

Hong Kong racing from Happy Valley is Wednesday morning starting at 6:40 a.m. EDT. Free PPs are available at Horse Racing Nation. For more free handicapping information, visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

Race 1: 7 Perfect Pairing, 2 Management Folks, 9 All Are Mine, 4 Romantic Fantasy

Race 2: 3 Win Method, 1 Ragga Bomb, 8 Precision Hope, 4 Absolute Awakened

Race 3: 10 Sunny Q, 5 The Heir, 6 Bits Superstar, 2 Golden Empire

Race 4: 4 Fortune Star, 1 Glorious Journey, 6 Beauty Viva, 8 Star Elegance

Race 5: 12 Bunta Baby, 3 Candlelight Dinner, 8 Mr Desira, 11 Hey Bros

Race 6: 8 Dan Attack, 4 Genius Baby, 3 King Profit, 1 Hayday

Race 7: 8 Brownneedsfurther, 1 Victor The Rapid, 2 Giant Ballon, 10 California Deeply

Race 8: 7 Without Compare, 1 Beauty Alliance, 6 King Lotus, 4 Fivefortwo

Race 9: 4 Pegas, 5 Amazing Kid, 2 Greater Bae, 1 Symbol Of Strength

Race 1 - Tuen Mun Handicap

No. 7 Perfect Pairing is at his best at this track and trip, already a winner and a three-time placegetter, and his last-start third over 1 1/8 miles had merit after he charged home from post 11. Post 3 is a map upgrade and puts him right in the firing line. No. 2 Management Folks is the class-dropper to note, one win from two at the level, and his 1 3/8 miles Happy Valley record stands out, with two of his three wins coming over the trip. Post 1 and Purton add to the appeal. No. 9 All Are Mine has been trending the right way since joining the Brett Crawford stable, finishing off strongly into placings at his last two starts, and while post 10 likely forces him to settle back, he is one to watch late. No. 4 Romantic Fantasy maps well from post 4 and has been knocking on the door through three recent seconds.

Race 2 - Tsuen Wan Handicap

No. 3 Win Method is well placed to follow up his last-start win at this track and trip, when he won going away by more than a length at his first try at the extended mile. Post 2 gives him the chance to hold a similar on-pace spot and the speed map does not look overly pressured. No. 1 Ragga Bomb shapes as the natural leader and may be able to dictate without having to spend too much. He bolted in by three lengths two starts ago when the race shape played to him, then backed it up with a close-up third. No. 8 Precision Hope is a four-year-old having his fifth start and his last-start fifth was a step forward after he finished off strongly against the race shape over six furlongs at Sha Tin. No. 4 Absolute Awakened faces a tough map from post 12, but he is not without hope after a series of luckless runs.

Race 3 - Kwai Chung Handicap

No. 10 Sunny Q makes his first appearance at Happy Valley and brings Sha Tin form that reads well. Post 5 is a workable gate, and he has not had much help from draws in recent runs, so this setup already looks kinder. No. 5 The Heir comes off a third as favorite where he raced on the inside, which did not look the place to be, so there was merit in holding his ground. Post 4 gives him another clean platform and, on the map, he looks set to have something to chase down late. No. 6 Bits Superstar is overdue after four straight placings. Brittany Wong’s 7lb claim and post 3 provide a couple of positives in an even race. No. 2 Golden Empire produced his best run yet for the Brett Crawford stable last time, a neck third, and post 1 gives him every chance to repeat or improve.

Race 4 - Tsuen Wan Handicap, div 2

No. 4 Fortune Star gets a much kinder map from post 5 after jumping from 12 last time, when he finished seventh, beaten two lengths. His run up the inside had merit given it was the wrong part of the track on the night, with those coming down the middle holding the advantage. No. 1 Glorious Journey draws to get every chance again from an inside post after going down by a head into second last start. No. 6 Beauty Viva heads to Happy Valley for his second attempt and his Sha Tin form reads well in this company. Post 1 can be an asset, even though he generally settles back, and he does not look far away despite still being a maiden. No. 8 Star Elegance was slow away first-up when the blinkers went on, but he charged late into second for his best effort yet.

Race 5 - The Rotary Centenary Challenge Cup

No. 12 Bunta Baby has thrived this season, winning twice and placing three other times from six starts, mostly at this track and distance. He is back into class 3 where his earlier form did not shine, but he returns in much better shape now. No. 3 Candlelight Dinner draws post 1 and maps to get every chance. His last run over six furlongs from a wide gate is best forgiven, and he has trialed quietly but nicely since. No. 8 Mr Desira is a progressive type, two wins from seven, and he has a strong record at the course and distance, including a win over Bunta Baby here three runs ago. He has been freshened since a disappointing 12th, and several trials suggest he is well prepared for his return. No. 11 Hey Bros draws well for his third Hong Kong start. His debut at this track and trip hinted at ability, his six furlongs second-up run did not, and this looks the chance to rebound.

Race 6 - Kwai Chung Handicap, div 2

No. 8 Dan Attack gets another chance after he pulled up lame last start when beaten just over two lengths into fifth. Plenty of speed on paper can suit his pattern in this race. No. 4 Genius Baby is the one with the map upgrade, coming into post 3 from 10 when he caught the eye late into second. He can be ridden patiently, let the speed sort itself out, then produce the same late punch. No. 3 King Profit draws post 1 and has options from there. His last two Sha Tin runs from post 10 were solid behind the likes of Lucky Ranger and Smart Golf, form that reads well for this, and he has since won a trial heat in good style. No. 1 Hayday draws post 2 and should also land a good position, while he is better placed back at this track and distance after a close-up fifth at Sha Tin. 

Race 7 - Kwai Chung Handicap, div 3

No. 8 Brownneedsfurther lines up for his ninth start still chasing a first win, but he looks to have his best chance yet with first-time blinkers added. The headgear seemed to sharpen him up when he won a recent Happy Valley trial in good style, and that is the key lead-in. No. 1 Victor The Rapid draws well again in post 3 and maps for a similar run to last time, when he finished second to Somelovefromabove. No. 2 Giant Ballon comes off a decisive maiden win where Purton went straight to the front and never gave his rivals a chance. Post 11 this time makes it tougher, but the lack of speed on paper can still allow him to press on and take up a handy spot. No. 10 California Deeply can take improvement second-up after a fair first-up seventh, when he gave away too much of a start in the early stages.

Race 8 - Fanling Handicap

No. 7 Without Compare faces a tough map from post 12, but the form is there to land a first win. He was second to Stormy Grove two runs ago, then stuck on well for fourth last time ahead of the likes of Shamus Storm and Beauty Alliance, and an ideal trial between runs suggests he is ready to go again. No. 1 Beauty Alliance maps for a soft run from post 2 and arrives in good form after rebounding from a late-fading seventh in the same race as Without Compare two starts ago to finish second behind Stunning Peach last time. No. 6 King Lotus is better suited back at Happy Valley after two plain Sha Tin runs, while post 1 gives him the chance to map sweetly and bounce back to his earlier form. No. 4 Fivefortwo has to overcome post 11 while chasing back-to-back wins, but his pattern suits being ridden quietly and produced late.

Race 9 - Kwu Tung Handicap

No. 4 Pegas gets a far better set-up second time at Happy Valley after racing wide on pace from post 7 last start and still sticking on well for fourth. His win over Aurio three runs ago reads well for this after Aurio came out and won at Happy Valley last week. No. 5 Amazing Kid is thriving, now four wins from nine starts this season, and the way he is doing it suggests he has more to come. No. 2 Greater Bae can be forgiven for his last run when trying to back up his prior win, never slotting in but still making late ground into fifth against the race shape. A good trial since is encouraging, and a kinder run looks on offer this time. No. 1 Symbol Of Strength chases back-to-back wins and maps for a sweet run within striking range from post 4.

Luke Middlebrook is a contributor at Idol Horse. After blogging about the sport for years, he spent eight years in Singapore as the resident expert at iRace Media, overseeing form and editorial content for racing in Hong Kong and Singapore. Coverage of the entire Hong Kong Thoroughbred season at Horse Racing Nation is made possible through a sponsorship by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.