Hong Kong Wednesday morning: Picks, analysis, free PPs

Hong Kong racing returns to Happy Valley Wednesday at 7:10 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: 2 Silver Spurs, 1 Golden Friendship, 9 Wisdom Star, 8 Modest Gentleman

Race 2: 9 Golden Luck, 4 Know At Heart, 3 Golden Darci, 5 Amazing Kid

Race 3: 12 Atomic Beauty, 9 Firefoot, 8 Forever Folks, 1 Samarkand

Race 4: 8 Victor The Rapid, 4 Excellence Value, 3 Star Contact, 9 Sure Joyful

Race 5: 1 Master Champion, 4 Honest Witness, 3 New Power, 7 Power Summit

Race 6: 3 The Perfect Match, 4 Genius Baby, 11 Sky Song, 2 King Lotus

Race 7: 9 Healthy Healthy, 1 Superb Capitalist, 4 La Forza, 7 Friends Of Shajing

Race 8: 7 Steps Ahead, 6 Soleil Fighter, 1 Californiatotality, 8 Jumbo Legend

Race 1, Chung Hom Kok Handicap

No. 2 Silver Spurs steps into Class 5 for the first time and is well placed to capitalize after an eye-catching trial. The drop in grade and a low draw in post 3 give him every chance to break through. No. 1 Golden Friendship also drops into Class 5 for the first time and, despite not trialing, commands respect with Zac Purton booked. He has early speed to map with all the favors. No. 9 Wisdom Star has yet to show anything on race day but has joined Chris So’s yard and trialled much better since. He should show improvement. No. 8 Modest Gentleman will get back from the wide draw but can feature late if the tempo is strong.

Race 2, Hoi Mei Handicap

No. 9 Golden Luck can go close fresh despite a tricky draw in post 11. He won first-up last season off a similar mark and ended the term with encouraging efforts, notably a luckless sixth when held up. No. 4 Know At Heart placed behind Bienvenue over this course and trip three runs back, a solid reference for this, and maps ideally from post 3. No. 3 Golden Darci was rejuvenated following a stable switch to Douglas Whyte, winning two of his final three starts, and should remain competitive in this grade. No. 5 Amazing Kid took time to find his feet last prep but was improving with each run. His recent trial suggests he’s come back in good order.

Race 3, Lido Handicap

No. 12 Atomic Beauty capped last season with three straight placings, including a close-up second to S J Tourbillon at this course and trip after doing all the work from gate 11. He resumes from post 1 and maps to get the win. No. 9 Firefoot reunites with Zac Purton on the quick back-up and the step up to 1 1/8 miles looks ideal. No. 8 Forever Folks makes his first appearance for Danny Shum, who reapplies the blinkers and tongue tie, an intriguing setup that could spark improvement. No. 1 Samarkand adds another layer of interest, dropping into Class 4 while backing up quickly, and his strong second-up record adds to his appeal.

Race 4, The Community Chest Cup

No. 8 Victor The Rapid did his best work late into sixth last week over six furlongs after being eased back from a wide gate. He’s unproven at this trip locally but was a seven furlongs horse pre-import, so the rise in distance holds no major concerns. No. 4 Excellence Value maps well from gate 4 and has Zac Purton booked for his first-up run. He’s been given two solid trials in the lead-up, which adds confidence. No. 3 Star Contact won first-up last season off a similar mark and could take advantage of what looks a soft early tempo if allowed to roll forward. No. 9 Sure Joyful has yet to fire in Class 3 but draws post 2 and maps for a soft run. He is a place chance at odds.

Race 5, Hoi Mei Handicap

No. 1 Master Champion was backed off the map into favoritism last week, only just missing after being held up for most of the straight. He draws post 1 again and can go one place better. No. 4 Honest Witness was edging toward a win at this course and distance late last season and resumes with the tongue tie applied for the first time. He is the key danger. No. 3 New Power is always competitive over this track and trip and maps perfectly from post 3 to suit his on-pace style. No. 7 Power Summit had just the one run last season where he settled back over five furlongs before running on late into eighth. That was a quiet introduction and he’s open to improvement.

Race 6, Hoi Mei Handicap, div 2

No. 3 The Perfect Match must be taken on trust given his long list of health setbacks, but there's no doubt about his ability. He resumes off two quiet but good trials and draws post 1, the same gate he scored from five starts ago under Hugh Bowman, who reunites with him here. No. 4 Genius Baby is down in the ratings and looked to have turned a corner in his recent trial. With Purton aboard and post 3 in his favor, he gets every chance to hit the frame. No. 11 Sky Song caught the eye in a recent trial and from post 2 maps for a soft run. No. 2 King Lotus produced a surprise win at this course and trip two back and followed with a fair effort over seven furlongs at Sha Tin. He’s another trial standout and remains open to more progress this term.

Race 7, Repulse Bay Handicap

No. 9 Healthy Healthy was luckless in his final run last campaign, held up late, and his recent trials suggest he’s returning in good shape to be in with a winning shot. No. 1 Superb Capitalist was tested over this course and trip twice to close out last season, producing a win and a close fifth. He maps to stalk the speed again and will get his chance late. No. 4 La Forza has shown promise with three wins from seven down the Sha Tin straight and brings good gate speed to his first attempt at the city circuit. That should aid his cause. No. 7 Friends Of Shajing caught the eye on debut last season, hitting the line nicely into fourth over this track and trip. He’s open to sharp improvement with more racing.

Race 8, Shek O Handicap

No. 7 Steps Ahead ran a cracking second on his first try at this course and distance, only narrowly denied by Hong Lok Golf after a similar close-up third behind the same rival at Sha Tin. He resumes with strong claims to go one better. No. 6 Soleil Fighter was third in that same race before being unsuited at Sha Tin twice. His recent trial was eye-catching and he’s well placed to figure. No. 1 Californiatotality defeated both Steps Ahead and Soleil Fighter last season, and from post 2 maps with an advantage again. No. 8 Jumbo Legend has a sharp turn of foot and will be dangerous late if the tempo works in his favor.

Luke Middlebrook is a Contributor at Idol Horse. After catching the Hong Kong racing bug, Luke spent several years blogging about the sport before relocating to Singapore in 2016. There, he spent eight years as the resident expert at iRace Media, overseeing all form-related and editorial content for horse racing in Hong Kong and Singapore.

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