Hong Kong form expert Luke Middlebrook provides his thoughts on every race at the Hong Kong meeting at Happy Valley on Wednesday 22 April.
7 Turf Phoenix makes his stable debut for Jimmy Ting after being trained by Chris So and Ting’s record with stable transfers is a positive. Barrier 3 sets him up for a good run in transit and gives him the chance to lift his form straight away.
Selections: 7-6-8-2
2 Soaring Bronco won straight away for the Mark Newnham yard and has since trialled impressively and remains well placed in Class 5. He can win again.
Selections: 2-8-6-7
8 To Infinity has the blinkers going on again and the quick back-up is an interesting move in a race that does not look straightforward. Barrier 2 gives him the platform to map for the right run.
Selections: 8-3-4-5
6 Vigor Eye gets a golden chance to break through at start six as he switches to Happy Valley off strong Sha Tin form. Purton jumps on at the right time, barrier 2 sets him up to land handy and he is the one to beat. #1 Young Arrow drops back into Class 4 where he is one from one and gets a kinder set-up from barrier 3 after covering ground on the all-weather last time.
Selections: 6-1-7-10
11 Thunder Prince has been running well all season without landing the win and he gets his chance from barrier 1 with Purton aboard. An impressive trial win between starts keeps him right on track.
Selections: 11-8-12-4
8 Jumbo Blessing resumes for the first time since February after pulling up with an irregular heart rhythm. This marks just his third career run and his debut effort now reads well, running a slashing fourth as market elect behind Sight Hermoso. He has trialled nicely for the return, gets barrier 4, and Moreira taking the ride adds plenty as he looks poised to break through.
Selections: 8-4-1-6
4 Together We Value made an immediate impression at this track and distance, drawing barrier 12, being eased back early, then charging into fourth and not beaten far. That was the run of a horse ready to win.
Selections: 4-1-5-6
11 Ace War has gone to another level since joining the Newnham stable, winning his last two races with plenty in hand by a combined four and a quarter lengths. That form was far too strong for Class 4 and he rises back into Class 3 as an improved horse, chasing the hat-trick and looking hard to beat again.
Selections: 11-3-1-5
3 Love Together is better than his last two results suggest since stepping up to 1200m, enduring tough trips on each occasion. An impressive trial second since has him in good order, while the switch to Moreira is the key change as he looks set to get a cleaner run and bounce back.
Selections: 3-1-12-6