Hong Kong racing tips: Jim McGrath with three selections at Happy Valley on Wednesday

Sight Happy
1.05 Happy Valley
2pts win

Samarkand
2.10 Happy Valley
2pts win

Spicey Gold
3.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

It’s just like the good old days for trainer David Hayes, who can continue his bright start to the season when sending out Sight Happy to take the Class 4 6f handicap sprint (1.05) on an eight-race card at Happy Valley.

Hayes was a dual champion during his first stint in Hong Kong two decades ago and he has slowly worked his way back to the top, leading the trainers’ championship as his 64-strong stable have been firing at the early meetings.

Sight Happy will be all the better with the fizz taken out of him after over-racing first time out when fourth to Scotch Tycoon over course and distance two weeks ago. Drawn on the inside in stall 1, he should enjoy the run of the race and break through at the fifth time of asking. He is a good ride for Alexis Badel.

Trainer Pierre Ng has taken the advice of Zac Purton and dropped Aeroinvincible back in distance after the gelding raced fiercely and refused to settle over 7f at Sha Tin ten days ago. However, this time he has drawn terribly (12 of 12), which won’t help his chance.

Purton faces a similar challenge on the Hayes-trained Samarkand, who will start from stall nine in the Class 3 handicap (2.10) over 1m½f. The six-year-old won four races at Happy Valley for the trainer last term, with his rating going up 24lb as a result.

Judging by the gelding’s first-up second to Helene Warrior in a similar race two weeks ago, his upward trajectory is continuing and he will be hard to beat if the seven-time champion jockey can get him over into a handy slot early.

Trainer Cody Mo recently sent Chain Of Gold for a barrier trial, in which he cruised home in behind horses, which will have him ready for his first outing in three months. Drawn much better than Samarkand near the inside in stall three, he has a good chance.

Mark Newnham, another trainer who has made an excellent start, saddles a decent prospect in Spicey Gold, who is well drawn and a good value bet in the Class 4 6f sprint handicap (3.15), in which New Power is the chief danger.

Spicey Gold, a son of So You Think, has gone up 6lb for his maiden win, which came on his ninth start in July. He has plenty of scope for improvement and may be just coming to himself.

Happy Valley Placepot perm

1.05
2 Aeroinvincible
7 Sight Happy

1.35
2 Snowalot
8 Foremost Teddy

2.10
3 Samarkand
6 Chain Of Gold

2.45
4 Matsu Victor
11 Ninja Derby

3.15
6 New Power
7 Spicey Gold

3.50
1 Youthful Spirits
2 Atomic Force

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote. The first race at Happy Valley on Wednesday is at 12.05pm.

Happy Valley card

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