Hong Kong Wednesday morning: Picks, analysis, PPs

Hong Kong is back at Happy Valley for the midweek card beginning Wednesday morning at 6:35 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: 9 Mr Aladdin, 1 Hakka Radiance, 3 Wah May Wai Wai, 2 Storm Runner

Race 2: 12 Atomic Beauty, 1 Quantum Patch, 2 Sturdy Ruby, 11 Smiling Emperor

Race 3: 5 Lunar Dash, 11 Nebraskan, 2 New Power, 1 California Deeply

Race 4: 8 Fortune Star, 4 Mighty Steed, 5 To Infinity, 1 The Azure

Race 5: 4 Super Sixty, 1 Parents’ Love, 8 Sergeant Pepper, 10 Day Day Victory

Race 6: 3 Star Contact, 5 Another Zonda, 6 Keen Molly, 1 Embraces

Race 7: 7 Gameplayer Elite, 1 Charming Babe, 5 Ace Power, 2 Denfield

Race 8: 12 Monarch County, 5 Sovereign Fund, 7 Regal Gem, 10 Never Too Soon

Race 9: 5 Bienvenue, 2 Storming Dragon, 6 Sports Legend, 10 Victor The Rapid

Race 1, Pedder Handicap

No. 9 Mr Aladdin backs up quickly from an unsuitable all-weather run and is better placed back on turf at Happy Valley. He’s still a long-standing maiden but is not without a chance. No. 1 Hakka Radiance finally broke through at start 25 and maps to get a soft run again from the low draw. He remains in Class 5 which keeps him in the numbers. No. 3 Wah May Wai Wai steps up in trip after an even effort into third as favorite last start. The application of cheekpieces first time may bring the extra spark he needs. No. 2 Storm Runner was caught wide on the pace first-up but stuck on well for fourth to Hakka Radiance. He’ll strip fitter and a cleaner run gives him claims.

Race 2, Nam Sang Wai Handicap

No. 12 Atomic Beauty was caught on pace in a strongly run 1 1/8 miles first-up where all the speed runners faded, so the run was better than it reads. He’ll strip fitter for that, and the drop back in trip along with post 1 gives him a chance to control the tempo. No. 1 Quantum Patch is two from two in the placings in Class 4 and looks well placed to go one better. His tick-over trial between runs was encouraging, suggesting he remains in good order, and he’s trending the right way. No. 2 Sturdy Ruby was doing his best work late in the same race, closing off well for fourth against the shape, and post 2 gives him a chance to settle closer. No. 11 Smiling Emperor draws to get a soft run and now looks a more mature prospect. He can lift on what he’s shown so far in Class 4.

Race 3, Li Yuen Handicap

No. 5 Lunar Dash went around as even-money favorite in both starts last term, finishing a close third on debut before disappointing second-up. The break looks to have done him good, with two sharp trials suggesting he’s ready to deliver on promise. No. 11 Nebraskan had excuses when caught wide without cover first-up, but maps far better this time from an inside draw and should revert to an on-pace role. No. 2 New Power is an honest type who rarely runs a bad race, and from the paint he has options to settle handy. No. 1 California Deeply closed off well first-up at Sha Tin but is better suited around Happy Valley. He'll drift back and be one to watch late.

Race 4, Man Cheung Handicap

No. 8 Fortune Star looked an improving type last season and closed it off with a strong second over this course and trip from a wide draw. He resumes off three decent trials and from post 3, looks well placed to break through for Mark Newnham. No. 4 Mighty Steed has been threatening since dropping in grade and was narrowly beaten first-up. Purton jumps aboard, though the shift to post 11 makes his map trickier. No. 5 To Infinity caused an upset when grabbing Mighty Steed late in that race and draws post 1 this time, where a suitable race shape could see him hard to hold out again. No. 1 The Azure is a three-time course and distance winner who will drop back from post 10 and look to rattle home late. His trials for return have been sound and he’s capable fresh.

Race 5, Man Yiu Handicap

No. 4 Super Sixty didn’t get clear running first-up, so his one-and-a-quarter-length sixth was better than it reads. He’ll be finishing off strongly with a rider switch to Hugh Bowman, which helps. No. 1 Parents’ Love will punch forward from post 2 and give a sight as usual. His first-up third to Super Strong Kid marked a solid return to Class 4. No. 8 Sergeant Pepper had no favors first-up when caught wide without cover from post 11, but he was only a length away in the finish. He draws post 1 this time and gets Zac Purton back on board, which are both decent ticks. No. 10 Day Day Victory has been thriving at this course and trip with two wins and three placings from seven starts. He’s drawn awkwardly first-up but is capable of closing off well with the right run.

Race 6, The HKEX Cup

No. 3 Star Contact gets the blinkers back on second-up after a narrow neck second on resumption. He maps to land on pace again, similar to last start, and looks poised to go one better. No. 5 Another Zonda has found his groove over this course and trip, ending last season with a front-running breakthrough before resuming with a third in the same race as Star Contact. Little separates the pair. No. 6 Keen Molly is lightly raced and improving, and his first-up fourth at Sha Tin was full of merit. He can take another step forward here. No. 1 Embraces resumed with his usual fast-finishing run into fourth and may settle a touch closer from a better draw. He’s always dangerous when the race is run to suit.

Race 7, Li Yuen Handicap, div 2

No. 7 Gameplayer Elite was nearing a win late last season after sliding in the ratings and now resumes with a stable switch to Dennis Yip. He’s trialed well twice in the lead-up and from an inside draw, gets his chance to finally break through. No. 1 Charming Babe ticks boxes, having drawn ideally and boasting a proven record grade which continued with a third placing on his return to Class 4 to end last season. No. 5 Ace Power closed off well into fourth from an awkward draw first-up and looks set to settle closer in the run this time, which will aid his chances. No. 2 Denfield has a good second-up record and worked home well from a wide gate first-up. He’s trending the right way since dipping back into Class 4.

Race 8, Harbour View Handicap

No. 12 Monarch County was a horror watch first-up, having attracted good support before striking plenty of trouble in the run and finishing ninth, beaten four lengths. It was a complete forgive and he gets another chance from a soft draw. No. 5 Sovereign Fund also had no luck first-up, badly held up inside the final 3/16ths and never getting clear running. His prior form reads very well and he’s capable of bouncing back. No. 7 Regal Gem is a progressive 3-year-old who broke his maiden two back and resumed with a solid second placing. He maps to get every chance again from a good gate. No. 10 Never Too Soon resumes with Zac Purton booked and has a strong fresh record. He’s drawn ideally and looks set to make his presence felt first-up.

Race 9, Harbour View Handicap, div 2

No. 5 Bienvenue faces his toughest test to date as he steps into a hot Class 3 for the first time, but he remains untapped and showed plenty of grit when winning first-up after racing wide throughout. No. 2 Storming Dragon maps to get the perfect run from an inside gate and should get every chance to finish over the top late. He’s held his form with a sharp tick-over trial and will be suited by the likely genuine tempo. No. 6 Sports Legend has drawn widest and will need luck, but his recent trial since joining the David Eustace yard was eye-catching and suggests he’s come up well. No. 10 Victor The Rapid gets better conditions here with an inside draw and the drop in distance, both positives that can see him improve third-up.

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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