Hong Kong Wednesday morning: Picks, analysis, free PPs

Hong Kong racing from Happy Valley is Wednesday 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: 1 Ace Talent, 3 Mr Good Vibes, 4 Happy Tango, 10 Great Days

Race 9: 4 Tomodachi Kokoroe, 2 Bundle Of Charm, 9 Copartner Ambition, 6 Gummy Gummy

Race 1: Ap Lei Chau Handicap

No. 1 Ace Talent dips in grade and it wouldn’t shock to see him return to form. He races well at Happy Valley and rates strongly for trainer Caspar Fownes. No. 3 Mr Good Vibes is another who makes the class-drop. He can put his best foot forward here from an ideal draw with an in-form Brenton Avdulla up. No. 4 Happy Tango is chasing back-to-back wins. He’ll roll forward and get his opportunity. No. 10 Great Days is yet to win, however, he has gone close a number of times. He’s favored under Zac Purton. Keep safe.

Race 2: Cheung Chau Handicap (2nd section)

No. 3 Beauty Infinity has the scope to keep improving and he comes from the right stable. He’ll take a bit of catching here, as long as he can handle the class-rise. No. 4 Nicconi County won well two runs back and he has remained in serious form since then. No. 1 Celestial Colours is after back-to-back wins. He’s in the right vein of form and gets another chance here remaining in Class 3. No. 8 Happy Fat Cat can roll forward under the featherweight and give this group something to reel in. Next in line.

Race 3: Lamma Island Handicap

No. 2 Medic Elite won well two starts back and continues to race in solid form. He’ll roll forward and make his own luck, which could easily see him prove hard to beat. No. 11 Mighty Star is finding his feet and comes into this following two very good outings. Expecting him to take another step forward under the light weight. No. 6 Happy Jai Jai gets a good gate and the services of Zac Purton. No. 1 Beau Gosse is racing well and has the draw to overcome. His last two efforts for third and have been sound.

Race 4: Green Island Handicap (2nd section)

No. 3 Copartner Prance continues to develop, and he looks ready to land a breakthrough victory. He’s progressing well and should prove hard to beat, especially under champion jockey Zac Purton. No. 7 Lapras is better than his record suggests. He’s worth including here at decent odds. No. 9 Hayday turned his form around to finish third last start. He is suited from the positive draw. No. 5 Great Achiever is lightly raced but has shown that he has some ability. Keep safe.

Race 5: The Ireland Trophy Handicap (1st section)

No. 8 Super Eagle is super consistent and it wouldn’t surprise to see him land another reward for Chris So. His last eight runs have seen him finish no worse than third. One to beat. No. 2 Ernest Feeling had a form blip last start, however, he can return to the right level of racing this week. He’s been superb all season. No. 7 Multidarling narrowly missed last start. He can mix his form but clearly has the ability. No. 5 Kilindini gets the apprentice up and chances are he rolls forward in a bid to pinch this contest from the front.

Race 6: Cheung Chau Handicap (1st section)

No. 1 Raging Blizzard has the class to keep improving. His ascent is far from over and the inside gate favors him under Zac Purton. One to catch. No. 2 Sugar Sugar is chasing a hat-trick of wins. He’s found the right vein of form and does do his best racing over this course and distance. No. 9 Kyrus Dragon is lightly raced and favored here under the featherweight impost. He can take another forward step. No. 3 Watch Buddy has been one of this season’s best performers at Happy Valley. Next in line.

Race 7: Ma Wan Handicap

No. 4 Sturdy Ruby comes into this following a pair of solid runner-up efforts. He’s consistent, competitive and this contest appears well within his grasp. No. 5 Joy Of Spring is lightly raced but does have a stack of potential. He gets his opportunity here. No. 7 Mayhem turned his form around to finish second last start. He draws well and now must transfer that form from the dirt course at Sha Tin to turf at the Valley. No. 8 Atomic Beauty has finished no worse than third across his last five runs, including one win. Next in line.

Race 8: Peng Chau Handicap

No. 10 Escape Route slots in light and has been consistent of late. This is a hotly contested race and his reliability holds him in very good stead. No. 4 Turin Mascot is in the right vein of form and he’s capable of winning another race this season. No. 1 Berlin Tango gets into Class 3 for the first time across his career. He’ll spark sharp improvement here, especially with Zac Purton hopping up from an ideal draw. No. 7 M Unicorn has been a revelation this season with four wins. He gets his chance.

Race 9: Soko Islands Handicap

No. 4 Tomodachi Kokoroe is after a hat-trick of wins. He won a seriously strong race last start under the light weight and does appear to have the scope to improve. Ideal draw should afford him the right run. No. 2 Bundle Of Charm is in a serious vein of form and he can make his presence felt here. His most recent three starts have been superb. No. 9 Coparter Ambition is a four-time winner from his last six runs. He’s a winner and there could still be some improvement to come. No. 6 Gummy Gummy is next in line.

Declan Schuster grew up loving the sport and doing the form after Pierro won the 2012 Golden Slipper. His love for racing in Asia and the puzzle of finding winners took him to Hong Kong, where he is employed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. His favorite racecourse is Happy Valley.

Coverage of the entire Hong Kong Thoroughbred season at Horse Racing Nation is made possible through a sponsorship by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.