Hong Kong Wednesday morning: Picks, analysis, free PPs

Race 1: 1 Go Go Go, 4 Fruity Warrior, 3 Nice Birdie, 5 Fury And Gold

Race 1, Hebe Hill Handicap

No. 1 Go Go Go has been racing consistently for a Class 5 horse this season. With the benefit of barrier 1 and Zac Purton remaining in the saddle, this race looks his for the taking. No. 4 Fruity Warrior has been itching to win his first race this season after two promising second-place finishes. Third-up now, he should be primed for this. No. 3 Nice Birdie receives a jockey upgrade with Hugh Bowman taking over the reins from a 10-lb claiming apprentice, which will help his chances on his second attempt back in Class 5, where he performs better. No. 5 Fury And Gold donned blinkers for the first time last start and showed improvement in the headgear during a trial leading into the race; however, he raced wide and had excuses. He is capable of improving further here.

Race 2, Shek Uk Shan Handicap

No. 4 High Rise Power is ready to win after his last-start third at this course and distance. Barrier 2 will provide a perfect run in a race with good speed engaged, and the recent stable change to Dennis Yip has sparked improvement. No. 7 Gallant Goody gets Zac Purton in the saddle from barrier 3. He has been a steady improver since dropping into Class 5 and looks ready to get into the money here. No. 11 Patch Of Watch is an interesting runner, as he continues to win trials by big margins but is yet to show up on race day. His chances should improve back in distance and with a better-judged ride here. No. 8 Super Joy can be slow to start, which is why he has placed more than won, but if the pace is on to suit, he will be making a late bid.

Race 3, Tin Ha Shan Handicap

No. 2 Floof won well two starts ago, his first under the care of Ricky Yiu, but he was forced to work hard from a wide draw last time and faded in the straight. Hugh Bowman riding from barrier 2 checks plenty of boxes for him to rebound. No. 7 Lucky Banner appears to get a soft lead here, ensuring he has every chance to bounce back after a 574-day break between wins. No. 6 Hakka Radiance is getting close to victory, evidenced by his last-start second-place finish at this course and distance. No. 3 Only U is improving after sliding down the ratings; coming into a low draw after a handy run from a wide position last time is in his favor.

Race 4, Tin Ha Shan Handicap, division 2

No. 1 Galvanic is easy to like here; he returns to Class 4, where he is best performed, receives a jockey upgrade with Hugh Bowman in the plate, and has drawn ideally in barrier 2 against modest competition. No. 4 Snowalot tries the all-weather for the first time, but that shouldn't pose a problem. Zac Purton will hop back in the saddle and combines with an in-form David Hayes, which bodes well for his chances. No. 11 Reliable Profit broke through for his first win in fine style in Class 5 last start. Despite the rise in class, he has a nice low gate in his favor to ensure he maps a chance. No. 2 Forever Folks is a reliable course and distance performer and remains in good order after his last-start course and distance win.

Race 5, The JCI Hong Kong Senate Cup Handicap

No. 7 Always Fluke was well supported first-up but encountered trouble at the 100m mark. He has since moved to Mark Newnham’s stable and trialed decently over this course and distance, so he may improve with the stable change and bounce back for a win. No. 4 Fun N Fun Together will be well supported with Zac Purton aboard from barrier 2. He brings strong form into this event and looks ready to win if the race pans out in his favor. No. 1 Bowser is trending towards another victory, and his first-up effort from a wide draw was full of promise. No. 8 Hinokami Kagura has had several chances to break his maiden after 10 starts, but he should still be in the mix here.

Race 6, Tiu Yue Yung Handicap

No. 8 Holy Power resumed down the 1000-meter Sha Tin straight and finished a luckless seventh, beaten just over five lengths after being badly held up in the closing stages. He has trialed well since and may relish this course and distance on his first attempt, especially with Zac Purton aboard from barrier 3. No. 1 Golden Long showed ability last season, but it ended on a sour note when he bled. Resuming, he has looked well in his trials, and trying this course and distance for the first time seems to suit him perfectly. No. 9 Robot Knight last raced on turf and ran a decent race, but his chances improve back on dirt. He holds form with a nice trial win in between runs. No. 5 Jolly Companion will give a sight from gate 2. He surprised at a price at this course and distance last start and may have found his niche here.

Race 7, Tsim Mei Fung Handicap

No. 5 Talents Ambition resumed over 1200m, which is short of his best, but finished strongly into third after jumping from barrier 10. Mark Newnham has him in fine shape for this race, having sent him back to the trials where he won his heat impressively, and he looks the one to beat from barrier 3. No. 2 Turin Mascot drops back to Class 3, which should make this a more manageable assignment. His first-up effort, when third behind a dominant Sword Point, showed he’s in good form. No. 4 Perfect Team has been close up in two turf runs this season and now switches to his preferred surface, which should give him a better chance. No. 7 Fighting Machine stepped up to Class 3 for the first time last start, running a fast-finishing fourth from a wide gate, and again has to overcome a tricky draw from barrier 11.

Race 8, Wa Mei Shan Handicap

No. 1 Capital Delight should benefit from dropping back to 1200m after a forgivable run over the extended mile last start, where he was held up for much of the straight but still managed to put in an honest effort. A fast-run race here will suit his pattern. No. 2 Victory Moments is well-placed with the return to Class 3 and to this course and distance, where he has been remarkably consistent, only missing the top three once in seven starts. He’s a big chance if he gets luck from barrier 11. No. 4 Super Win Dragon, who defeated Capital Delight when first-up, has trialed well since and is ideally drawn to go close again from barrier 2. No. 7 Self Improvement was in need of his first-up run after doing too much work from a wide gate; expect him to improve here.

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.