Horse Racing Betting Tips: Our trader’s Happy Valley picks
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Our trader has picked out his betting tips for Wednesday with a nine-race card coming from Happy Valley in Hong Kong, featuring the Ho Chung River Handicap.
Let’s take a look at Christopher Neale’s races and riders to look out for…
Top Jockey
As ever, the race to be named Hong Kong’s Champion Jockey remains a thriller.
Zac Purton will be hoping to continue his red-hot form at the track, having bagged a double at the Valley last week, and a fabulous five timer the week before.
Joao Moreira rode a winning treble at Sha Tin on Sunday and both jockeys are neck and neck at the top of the table with 117 wins apiece with 16 meetings to go.
As usual, both riders have a full book of nine rides each, all of which have solid prospects so expect further twists and turns in the battle for the Jockeys Championship title.
Zac Purton’s booked rides – Gintoki (11:45), Dionysus Collin (12:15), Amazing Luck (12:45), Be Ready (13:15), Ares (13:45), Jade Phoenix (14:15), Farshad (14:45), Golden Dash (15:15), Amazing Star (15:50).
Joao Moreira’s booked rides – Happy Good Guys (11:45), Salto Olimpico (12:15), Lightning Steed (12:45), Explosive Witness (13:15), Monkey Jewellery (13:45), Simply Fluke (14:15), Green Reign (14:45), Californiadeepshot (15:15), Shining Ace (15:50).
Ho Chung River Handicap (15.50)
The most intriguing race of the day is the Class 2 Ho Chung River Handicap (15.50). Nine of the twelve runner field have wins to their name this season with a combined total of twenty-one wins between them.
At the top of the weights, Amazing Star (3/1) under Purton will be looking to cement his reputation as a course specialist, having won 4 of his last 5 outings at the track.
The last of those wins came in March and he’s been rested since, but has reportedly put in handy recent work and could be firing on all cylinders for his return to the track.
This race however will be far from a walkover as This Is Class (13/2) also boasts impressive course and distance form.
He’ll be seeking a four timer on Wednesday having strung together a hat-trick of wins over 5 and 6 furlongs in his previous three appearances, although regular rider Vincent Ho has been booked elsewhere so Karis Teetan takes the mount for the first time.
Last time out winners Shining Gem (5/1) and Larson (6/1) are big improvers this season and will likely also feature towards the front end of the market.
The former is stepping up in grade having won a Class 3 handicap last time out and is well drawn here in his search for back to back wins.
Larson is less favourably drawn, however, that was no obstacle last time out when making all from gate twelve over five furlongs. He’ll be carrying 10lbs more but the manner of his victory suggests there is still more to come, expect another bold bid from the front.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.
