Hong Kong overnight: Picks, analysis, free PPs for Sha Tin

After the severe weather which forced the Wednesday card to be canceled, Hong Kong returns to Sha Tin overnight Sunday at 12:45 a.m. EDT, Saturday at 9:45 p.m. PDT. Free PPs are available at Horse Racing Nation. For more free handicapping information, visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

Race 1: 8 Speedy Smartie, 3 Yee Cheong Raider, 6 Brilliant Fire, 12 Sonic Boom

Race 2: 1 Top Throne, 9 Lahore, 8 Flowing Riches, 13 Mr Desira

Race 3: 8 Smashing Express, 6 Draco, 3 Perfect Peach, 10 Family Fortune

Race 4: 1 Fun N Fun Together, 8 Daily Trophy, 3 Yee Cheong Spirit, 12 Meepmeep

Race 5: 4 Packing Phoenix, 6 Rising Phoenix, 2 Spicy Standard, 8 Patch Of Time

Race 6: 10 Winning Machine, 8 Lucky Sam Gor, 1 Blazing Wukong, 6 Conspiracy Witness

Race 7: 4 Little Paradise, 10 King Of Fighters, 11 The Revolution, 2 Bundle Of Charm

Race 8: 8 My Wish, 6 Packing Hermod, 12 Light Years Charm, 9 Rubylot

Race 9: 4 Dancing Code, 2 Gorgeous Win, 11 Brilliant Express, 1 Young Champion

Race 10: 14 Top Time, 7 South Star, 2 Beauty Crescent, 9 Spirit Of Peace

Race 11: 5 Beauty Bolt, 10 Endeared, 4 Yuen Long Elite, 11 Flying Luck

Race 1 Tropicbird Handicap

No. 8 Speedy Smartie turned in a decent run first-up when forced to work from a wide draw, boxing on gamely into second. He’s much better placed from post 3 and gets a genuine chance to deliver Brett Crawford his first Hong Kong winner. No. 3 Yee Cheong Raider steps into class 5 for the first time and has been holding his form well. His two recent efforts over this course and distance were encouraging, and Purton’s booking from a soft draw makes him a serious player. No. 6 Brilliant Fire showed marked improvement first-up, running on late despite traffic in the straight, and looks set to progress further. No. 12 Sonic Boom closed sharply from the tail first-up on turf and now switches back to his preferred all-weather surface. Drawing the inside gate only enhances his claims.

Race 2 Parrot Handicap

No. 1 Top Throne won one from four last season and had excuses from wide draws in his final two runs. His two trial wins leading into this have been strong, and post 14 is ideal for the straight course. No. 9 Lahore returns to the straight five furlongs, where he was placed twice from three starts last term. He’s been prepared with two trials and comes from the in-form Jamie Richards yard, which bodes well fresh. No. 8 Flowing Riches caught the eye trialing behind Lahore and was only seen three times last season, showing glimpses of ability. The addition of cheekpieces could be key. No. 13 Mr Desira resumes for just his second career run and is expected to improve on his debut sixth.

Race 3 Woodpecker Handicap

No. 8 Smashing Express is on the seven-day turnaround after hitting the line strongly into third over 1 1/8 miles, and from a soft draw he gets every chance to deliver in a wide-open class 5. No. 6 Draco was sent out a loose favorite first-up but endured a tough run from post 12, finishing a sound fifth. Though his form is on the up, he’s drawn awkwardly again. No. 3 Perfect Peach resumed with a dominant win and, if he presents in similar shape, is capable of going back-to-back. No. 10 Family Fortune has been knocking on the door since the drop to this grade and, with a closing second to Perfect Peach fresh, he’s again right in the mix.

Race 4 Swallow Handicap

No. 1 Fun N Fun Together resumes off two strong trials and reunites with Zac Purton, who led all the way aboard him for his maiden win three back. He’ll look to repeat that front-running success here. No. 8 Daily Trophy picked up where he left off with a fast-finishing second on return and remains well placed to go one better. No. 3 Yee Cheong Spirit makes his all-weather debut but has consistently trialed well on the surface and can figure with luck from gate 10. No. 12 Meepmeep draws an inside gate for the first time in a while, which gives him the chance to map much closer and improve his chances, even if he is better suited over further.

Race 5 Shrike Handicap

No. 4 Packing Phoenix is a smart-looking newcomer for the Francis Lui yard who has trialed well in the lead-up, showing likeable gate speed. Expect him to lead and be hard to wear down. No. 6 Rising Phoenix is heading the right way and his first-up run down the straight, where he was held up before charging late into second, reads well. No. 2 Spicy Standard franked his improved off-season trial form with an impressive two-length win over this course and trip. As a John Size import, he's entitled to go on with it. No. 8 Patch Of Time bounded out and settled further back than usual first-up and never featured, but he’s better than that and can rebound on prior form.

Race 6 Tailorbird Handicap

No. 10 Winning Machine attracted solid market support first-up but endured a tough run wide without cover in a strongly run race and was entitled to tire late. He moves into post 1, which is a major upgrade and should ensure a softer run. No. 8 Lucky Sam Gor was a luckless third when held up at the top of the straight and looks ready to win. The wide draw makes his task harder, but that will help the price. No. 1 Blazing Wukong has returned in good order if his recent trials are any guide. Lightly raced and progressive, he looks to have more to offer this season. No. 6 Conspiracy Witness never got clear running first-up, but stepping up in trip and the booking of Zac Purton both suggest he can take a step forward.

Race 7 Cuckoo Handicap

No. 4 Little Paradise was a two-time winner from just four starts last season and was unlucky not to add a third win when narrowly beaten after a luckless run in his final outing. He returns off an impressive trial win, and with Zac Purton taking over from post 4, he can atone. No. 10 King Of Fighters made solid late ground into third on resumption with blinkers applied for the first time and should relish the move to the bigger Sha Tin circuit second-up. No. 11 The Revolution showed nothing in two starts last term but has returned a much-improved horse judging by his recent trials, and the inside gate gives him the chance to translate that to raceday. No. 2 Bundle Of Charm caught the eye when finishing well for fourth on the all-weather first-up and back on turf with a better draw gives him claims.

Race 8 Celebration Cup

No. 8 My Wish shapes as one of the more exciting prospects going forward this season. His two trials for return have been impressive, and from post 4 he maps ideally on pace in a race lacking pressure. He is primed to resume as a winner. No. 6 Packing Hermod is a proven fresh performer with three of his six wins coming first-up. His form is strong, and he too maps to fight out the finish. No. 12 Light Years Charm takes a step up in class and faces a fresh test, but what he produced last term suggests there’s more to come. No. 9 Rubylot will get well back from post 14 but is capable of launching late under the right race shape.

Race 9 Magpie Handicap

No. 4 Dancing Code maps to get the right run from post 2 and looks set to carry on from the strong form he showed last season while the stable is firing on all cylinders. No. 2 Gorgeous Win gave away a big head start first-up but closed off well into fourth behind Ka Ying Rising. The booking of Hugh Bowman works in his favor second-up but he will need a bit of luck starting from post 10. No. 11 Brilliant Express was caught wide on his class 2 debut yet stuck on gamely into ninth. He’s been dealt better luck with the draw this time and remains one on the up. No. 1 Young Champion can mix his form but is more than capable on his day and is one to keep safe second-up.

Race 10 Hwamei Handicap

No. 14 Top Time was luckless when resuming, held up badly in the straight before surging late for second. He rises to class 3 for the first time but drops in weight and maps for every chance from post 1. No. 7 South Star showed good ability last term with two wins from seven starts and returns off an impressive trial win, now with Zac Purton booked for the first time. No. 2 Beauty Crescent has turned a corner since a tactics change and comes into this shooting for a third straight win. No. 9 Spirit Of Peace ran on strongly into third behind Beauty Crescent when resuming and, although likely to settle back from gate 11, he’ll be closing off with interest again.

Race 11 Mesia Handicap

No. 5 Beauty Bolt looks a serious prospect for the season ahead. He impressed into second on debut before scoring impressively second-up, and he returns with classic series aspirations on the radar. No. 10 Endeared is likeable on the quick back-up following a strong second on the all-weather. He finally draws a low gate again, which he’s rarely enjoyed, and that could be the difference. No. 4 Yuen Long Elite rounded out last term with a commanding course-and-distance win and has trialed well leading in. He’ll roll forward despite the wide draw and give them something to catch. No. 11 Flying Luck chased Yuen Long Elite home in that win, has been prepared with two trials, and looks ready to fire fresh from the in-form Caspar Fownes stable.

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