Tim Carroll

This Wednesday sees a competitive nine-race card from Happy Valley getting underway at 10.40am - live on Sky Sports Racing. The feature of the meeting is race 6, the Class 3 Kwoon Chung Bus Cup (Handicap) over 6f, offering prize-money of more than £185,000.

Now onto this week's selections...

Race 1: Class 5 Kwoon Chung Motors Handicap (10.40am) (1m 1f)

1 KASA PAPA is a hard knocking 8yo veteran that earlier in his career was placed at Group 3 level in Australia and whilst he hasn’t lived up to that early promise, and has recorded just the one local success, he drops into the bottom grade for the first time since winning here over course and trip earlier last year , and he’ll find this more to his liking.

From two starts over course and trip this season, he was luckless in one and beaten a lip when runner-up in the other, both of which were stronger races than this. He must concede weight to his rivals, but he should have the gun run from the low draw and Purton, who was last on top when he won, is reunited.

Dangers:

9 All Are Mine has a modest record but was having just his third start and first on turf for trainer Brett Crawford last time when third over slightly further at Sha Tin, and that race has already thrown up some form with the fourth a subsequent winner.

4 Hailtothevictors is an eleven-start maiden that ran well enough in defeat when fourth over this trip at Sha Tin last time despite an unfavourable trip planted wide, and unlike most of these, he has potential for further improvement.

12 Dragon Sunrise has placed just one of his 16 starts but it came at his most recent out when doing his best work late over the mile, he goes from the foot of the handicap and tries this trip for the first time.

Race 2: Class 5 Intercontinental Limousine Handicap (11.10am) (6f)

6 ONLY U has just the one win from 31 starts, but he’s one of several well exposed types that have shown improvement after joining first-season trainer, Brett Crawford. Whilst he has a modest record, he ran well enough in defeat when fourth at Sha Tin last time, and he hasn’t had the rub of the green a few times this season, including when runner-up over this trip on the all-weather track at Sha Tin on his penultimate start.

The selection has featured as a hard luck story in the stewards’ report on three occasions from his last four start. The conundrum for punters is he’s a late closing type, so he will need things to go his way on his first start at Happy Valley since mid 2025, but he’ certainly due a clear round and connections add a visor.

Dangers:

3 Sterling Wongchoy, who won over the mile here last season, is a consistent type dropping back in trip, but he has placed over the 6f from higher marks in the past and this looks a moderate affair, but he’ll need some luck from the high draw.

10 Oriental Surprise is a long standing maiden but he was only beaten a lip in second over course and trip last week from a high stall, he has fared much better with the draw here and the 2lb claim sees him on slightly better terms.

5 Concorde Star was unplaced over 5f when last seen in January, but he’d shown a bit of improvement prior that, breaking his duck over course and trip before finishing runner-up, the step back to 6f here looks helpful, but for the fifth time in 6 starts this season he draws high.

Race 3: Class 4 Trans-Island Chinalink Handicap (11.40am) (1m 3f)

3 DOUBLE WIN, who recorded back-to-back wins under Hollie Doyle late last year, has been unplaced his last three, but he had genuine excuses in the first two and can be forgiven an ordinary effort when unplaced last time when having his first try on dirt.

The selection was last seen on turf when a beaten favourite at Sha Tin at the start of January, but he was slow to break that day and was held up in the straight. The conundrum for punters is he can be slow out of the gates, as he was when he came from near last in shedding his maiden status in November, but he jumped cleanly and punched forward the following start when winning over from course and trip, which what Dylan Browne McMonagle can hopefully get him to do here from the inside draw.

Dangers:

2 Serangoon goes up 7lb having swooped late over 9f at Sha Tin last time and although that race set-up kindly for the closers, he does enjoy this trip having won here last season from just 3lb lower.

6 Packing Hurricane, who was placed from a 4lb higher mark his only spin over course and trip this season, wasn’t a luckless loser last time, but he did end up strung up on the rail with nowhere to go before scoping poorly post-race and could bounce back.

1 Young Bravo is a low mileage 4yo that shed his maiden status over 9f here in December when he had a subsequent twice winner in second, and although turned over twice since, he was beaten less than a length last time, he still has scope and he may enjoy trying this trip for the first time.

Race 4: Class 4 KC Smart Mobility Handicap (12.10pm) (6f)

2 GENIUS BABY was well-held last time, but he didn’t seem to run out the 7f that day, and he’d been in decent shape prior that over this trip. The selection broke his local duck over course and trip in December before two solid efforts in defeat, fourth on each occasion.

There were no hard luck stories in either of those, but both races had a few that arrived with some recent form on the board, and this looks a very modest contest. The selections is 6lb higher than when he won, which means technically he does require a career best, but that’s little to fear here, connections add cheek-pieces, and a repeat of his last three efforts over this trip would see him go close.

Dangers:

8 Star Performer, who was a maiden winner in South Africa, is yet to hit the frame in eleven local starts, but he hasn’t been beaten far a few times, he lands in what is a soft Class 4, he drops a further 2lb in the handicap and steps up to 6f for the first time this year.

3 Holmes A Court has been disappointing since arriving from Australia where he was beaten just four-lengths in the world’s richest 2yo race, but he has shown plenty of pace his last two starts, he draws down in 1, he drops a further 2lb, a first-time visor is fitted, and lands in a modest contest.

9 Falcon Hunter showed nothing on his first four starts but took a decent step forward last time when picking up the bronze over course and trip, and although he went around at triple figures that day and draws high here, he drew high last time, he was doing his best work late that day and he could be an improving type.

Race 5: Class 4 Kwoon Chung Macau Limousine Rental Services Handicap (12.40pm) (6f)

5 GIANT BALLON is a seven-start maiden that has shaped with promise a few times recently and although a tad underwhelming when a beaten favourite at Sha Tin last time, he had run with merit in defeat his previous two on this track from outside stalls and is better drawn here.

Connections have refitted the blinkers here, which were last worn (only time tried) in December when he was snagged back from a high draw and given plenty to do, but given he ran a tad green at Sha Tin last time, it looks a good move. The selection drops 2lb, but he has looked a work in progress, chances are he’s a bit better than his current mark, and Purton maintains the faith.

Dangers:

4 Fortune Whiskey last win was just over a year ago, but it was over course and trip from just 1lb lower, he’s a consistent type and although they’ve ridden him to close late recently, and he’s certainly won’t be leading, he has won when sat handy in the run and they may look to do that here from the low draw.

2 Tactical Command, who was a thrice winner over course and trip last season, ran his best race of the current campaign when runner-up here last time and he is 1lb below his last win, but he does have a high draw to contend with.

10 Yee Cheong Spirit bombed on the dirt last time, but he has placed over course and trip a. couple of times from higher marks this season and although he rarely wins, he drops a further 2lb and is now 8lb below his course and trip success from last season.

Race 6: Class 3 Kwoon Chung Bus Cup (Handicap) (1.15pm) (6f)

7 FLYING WROTE will be moving up in grade under a 6lb penalty having won over course and trip last time, and this will be his first spin at this level, but his trainer is a s good as anyone at placing horses and although he has more on his plate in this grade, he does carry 10lb less.

The selection draws perfectly in 1 in a race offering a strong gallop and whilst he’s no slouch, he won’t be contesting the lead here, but he should have the perfect trail in behind. With so much pace to aim at, and the lightweight, the race maps perfectly and if it pans out like that, he should go close to landing the double. 

Dangers:

2 Sports Legend, who has found a bit of form since joining David Eustace this season, was runner-up over course and trip at his most recent start with a couple these well beaten in behind, and although he edges up another 1lb for that, he has placed from slightly higher and he should have the gun run from the draw.

9 Tourbillon Golfer disappointed when favourite last time with no obvious excuses, but he’s a low mileage type that had a win and two placed efforts from his previous three starts over course and trip, with a senior rider taking over.

5 Romantic Gladiator, who won (known as Amakhala Warrior) both starts for William Knight makes his local debut having not been seen since July of last year, there’s not a lot to go on in the trials as he was given an easy time of it in his most recent, but he represents the same connections as Romantic Warrior and a market watch is advised.

Race 7: Class 4 Kwoon Chung Inclusive & Accessible Service Handicap (1.45pm) (1m)

1 RAGGA BOMB, who won a juvenile Cork maiden for Ger Lyons in 2023, has taken a bit of time to find his local legs, but he had shown signs of improvement a couple of times before recording his first local success last time, which came over course and trip.

Whilst it’s probably simply down to needing a bit of time, the improvement has coincided with a change in tactics, with connections electing to more positive. He punched forward last time when he sat second well off a noted front runner, but he dragged the field up that night and whilst he’s been lumped 9lb for the win, he won by a margin with what looked to be something in the locker, and very little pace in the race, they may elect to go from the front here.

Dangers:

9 Take Action has been runner-up his last two and was a luckless loser last time, beaten a narrow margin having come from what looked an impossible position, and he does meet the selection on 8lb better terms for a three-length margin from the start prior, but he was well held that night.

4 Noble Pursuit was probably a tad unlucky when beaten a lip last time having been given enough to do in a race that set-up for the pace runners, however he faces a similar scenario here with no more than a n honest gallop on offer.

8 Northern Beast doesn’t win too often these days, and Purton jumps off to ride California Moxie, but the David Hall 6yo has been top four in his last three spins over course and trip and he’s one of very few here that likes to sit handy, which should give him a tactical advantage.

Race 8: Class 3 New Lantao Bus Handicap (2.15pm) (6f)

10 STORMING DRAGON will be a bit of a swing given he’s failed to place his last ten starts, but it’s not as bad as it sounds. The selection has had a terrible run of high draws recently which has seen him snagged back in all those races, but picking up late without threatening.

The upside of the losing sequence is his mark, which has dropped 13lb since its peak in October, and he now finds himself 4lb below the mark he was on when hacking up over course and trip at the start of the season. He draws down in 2 here, and whilst he won’t been seen on the front, his three career wins have come when he has sat mid division from low draws, he should be able to do that here.

Dangers:

1 Lucky Planet is a front runner that’s been in great heart of late, winning two of his last three over course and trip, but he goes up 6lb having won by a narrow margin last time and he will have to concede up to 16lb to his rivals.

9 Amazing Kid strung together a three-timer at a level blow this prior an unplaced effort when moving into this grade last time, but he had a tough run planted wide without cover that night and could bounce back with a bit more luck.

3 Pegas was a tad disappointing but didn’t run poorly when unplaced at Sha Tin last time, but he broke his local duck at the same venue on just his fourth start prior, he still has scope and he has his first run at Happy Valley is a softer contest than the one he contested last time.

Race 9: Class 3 Sichuan Bipenggou Tourist Attractions Handicap (2.50pm) (1m)

1 SILVERY BREEZE goes from the top of the handicap and that’s no easy task in what looks a competitive Class 3, but he does have a few things in his favour, most importantly that being he will be dropping in grade having run well in defeat when fourth in a highly competitive Class 2 last time.

Whilst he does concede weight, the David Eustace 5yo draws the very inside which should see him with a soft commute in behind the leading few, and it’s worth noting that from his last four runs at this level he has recorded a win and three silvers, with two of those defeats coming in photo finishes whilst the other was when he was given plenty to do from a high draw.

Dangers:

3 Corleone is a progressive type that arrives with a 7lb penalty having recorded his third win at just his fourth start this season and whilst he could still be on a workable mark, the draw in 10 makes things a tad tricky.

11 Withallmyfaith, who was a thrice winner in New Zealand, is yet to break his local duck in eleven goes but he has improved recently placing three of his last four including when just a nose in behind a couple of above average types last time when he went from the front, and he’s likely to try the same here.

4 Viva Graciousness was successful over course and trip his first two runs back this campaign and although he has struggled a tad since his mark went into the high 60’s, he bounced back to form last time when runner-up to Corleone and he is an 8lb better terms here.

WEDNESDAY’S PLACEPOT

Wednesday’s Tote placepot will be races 4 through to 9. All up we will be playing 54 combinations (3x3x2x1x3x1), which will cost £5.40 for a 10p stake and so on. Good luck!

LEG 1 - 2 GENUIS BABY 3 HOLMES A COURT 8 STAR PERFORMER

LEG 2 - 2 TACTICAL COMMAND 4 FORTUNE WHISKEY 5 GIANT BALLON

LEG 3 - 2 SPORTS LEGEND 7 FLYING WROTE

LEG 4 - 1 RAGGA BOMB

LEG 5 - 1 LUCKY PLANET 8 STORMING DRAGON 9 AMAZING KID

LEG 6 - 1 SILVERY BREEZE