Hong Kong form expert Luke Middlebrook provides his thoughts on every race at the Hong Kong meeting at Happy Valley on Wednesday 13 May.
3 Setanta is a better chance back to this track and distance, especially with blinkers reapplied. This is his second start in Class 5 and he looks ready to make his presence felt.
Selections: 3-11-2-6
8 Forerunner was ridden too close to the speed last start and faded late into fourth, but it was still a good run. Before that, he was a fast-finishing second when ridden with more patience, and similar tactics from barrier 2 today can see him well placed off what should be a genuine tempo.
Selections: 8-1-7-2
1 Fivefortwo should not have to get as far back from barrier 2 today as he did from barrier 8 last time, when he was steadied early and left with too much ground to make up. He still closed well into fifth, beaten under three lengths, and gets a better set-up here.
Selections: 1-7-4-9
12 Lakeshore Hero is on the quick back-up after bouncing back into the money over 1,200m on the all-weather, and he carries next to no weight this time with Britney Wong’s seven-pound claim bringing him in on 109 pounds.
Selections: 12-1-3-5
8 Ace War has been an improver since joining the Newnham stable, posting back-to-back wins in Class 4 before his hat-trick bid was cut short when rising into Class 3. He was too far back from barrier 11 before flashing late into second, beaten half a length, and he may not need to settle as far back from barrier 9 today. That gives him his chance to turn the tables on The Auspicious.
Selections: 8-1-5-3
9 Incanto Star gets a better set-up today from barrier 2 than he did last time from barrier 10 over the mile at Sha Tin. He had poor trips in his two runs before that after the blinkers went on, and with the low draw today, he can finally map cleanly.
Selections: 9-7-8-10
8 Tactical Command has been coming back into form recently and now strikes a race where the set-up looks to favour him. From barrier 4, he can camp just off the speed in a stalking position behind what should be a genuine tempo.
Selections: 8-6-9-12
9 Flash Current comes with the usual caveat as a backmarker, but he is capable and recent runs suggest he is back in form. A head second to Emblazon four starts ago reads well for a race like this, while wide draws in his last two runs have not helped. He was also held up for a good portion of the straight last time when finishing just under four lengths behind Fortune Link.
Selections: 9-2-10-11
1 Speed Dragon has to carry top weight, but he arrives in good form first-up since his fast-finishing third to Winning Ovation. His fresh record is strong, as is his Happy Valley record of three wins from five.
Selections: 1-8-4-10