Hong Kong form expert Luke Middlebrook provides his thoughts on every race at the Hong Kong meeting at Happy Valley on Wednesday 29 April.
4 Dashing Maurison is a three-year-old who has been improving with racing and he now gets a few key changes. His first try in Class 5 last time was only fair, settling back and proving difficult for apprentice Britney Wong to ride, so the switch to Bentley is a plus, and first-time blinkers add another angle for improvement.
Selections: 4-7-3-8
9 King Glorioso makes his first start for Manfred Man after switching from Douglas Whyte and his trial for the new stable was encouraging. Barrier 3 gives him a far better map than last time from 12, and in a race that lacks depth he gets his chance to win straight up.
Selections: 9-4-3-1
9 Star Brose is well placed to break through in Class 4 with Purton back aboard. His second to Ace War at this track and trip was encouraging given a few things went wrong in the run, and that remains the guide.
Selections: 9-3-2-11
5 Ace Power gets back to Happy Valley, where his track-and-distance record is strong, after two solid all-weather runs since joining the Mark Newnham stable. Both efforts had merit, and barrier 1 is a key boost to his set-up today.
Selections: 5-1-3-7
9 Legend Star gets a far kinder map from barrier 3 after being posted wide without cover near the speed from barrier 10 last time. From this draw he can camp off the leaders and look to use the turn of foot he has shown.
Selections: 9-8-5-2
3 Beauty Viva maps for a better run from barrier 3 and can improve on his last-start seventh, when he showed no early speed and settled back in a slowly run race. He still worked home with merit against the race shape.
Selections 3-10-2-12
2 Colourful King has had genuine excuses in his last two runs, both sixths behind Crimson Flash over 1200m, most recently from barrier 12 at Sha Tin where he settled back, was steadied near the 800m, then finished off well. With more speed expected today, he receives every chance to get back to winning ways.
Selections: 2-5-1-10
4 Giant Ballon chases a hat-trick after Purton found the key to him, rolling to the lead with the blinkers back on and winning his last two by a combined five and a half lengths. This is a tougher test as he steps into Class 3, but his latest trial was very good and, on paper, he again looks capable of controlling the tempo.
Selections: 4-3-2-12
6 Armor Golden Eagle gets another look after a luckless third, held up on the turn and not getting out until leaving the 250m, beaten a length and a half. Purton takes over and barrier 4 sets him up to atone.
Selections: 6-3-12-1