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

Swift Ascend
2.40 Happy Valley
2pts win

I Can
3.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Reward Smile
3.50 Happy Valley
2pts win

Andrea Atzeni can make full use of an overdue inside draw in the Class 3 1m½f handicap (3.15) aboard the ultra-consistent I Can, who looks the best bet on an eight-race card at Happy Valley.

Atzeni enjoyed a brilliant first season, finishing fourth in the jockeys’ championship, but it has been tougher this term for the popular Italian, who has ridden three winners and numerous minor placings from 46 rides (6.52 per cent) at the first nine meetings.

He rode I Can to his sole local win over course and distance in April, when the five-year-old started from stall two. Incredibly, the Iffraaj gelding has managed to finish in the first four in his last four starts despite drawing stall ten or wider, which is a huge disadvantage.

For those who like omens, note that I Can is again in stall two and it should make a world of difference. The New Zealand import is trained by Pierre Ng, who is also responsible for last-time-out winner Fighting Machine, who looks the danger and will be ridden by Zac Purton.

David Eustace has called on Purton to partner Swift Ascend, who has excellent prospects on his first run for the first-year trainer in the Class 4 6f handicap (2.40), in which his inside draw in three gives him an edge in a tricky race.

Eustace, who has saddled a second from just three runners, picked up Swift Ascend from Douglas Whyte, but he knows the son of Lord Kanaloa well. In Australia, he trained the gelding – jointly with Ciaron Maher – to win at Sydney track Canterbury.

The main opposition comes from the Cody Mo-trained Talents Supremo, who is 1-25 locally but is now on a mark where he can be effective. He was Listed-placed as a juvenile in Britain and has raced once already this season.

Hugh Bowman is firmly entrenched in second spot in the jockeys’ championship and can maintain his good form when partnering Reward Smile for John Size in the Class 3 6f handicap (3.50), although he will have to come from back in the field again having drawn ten.

Reward Smile produced an eyecatching effort on his most recent start when coming from last to take second behind Super Joy N Fun, who had a dream run from an inside draw and opposes again from out wide. That draw is enough to turn the tables in favour of Reward Smile, who meets his rival on 6lb better terms for being beaten a neck.

Happy Valley Placepot perm

1.10
6 Strongest Boy
7 Super Unicorn

1.40
1 King Eccellente
3 Aurora Lady

2.10
1 High Percentage
3 Hayday

2.40
1 Swift Ascend
9 Talents Supremo

3.15
7 Fighting Machine
12 I Can

3.50
1 Reward Smile
5 Super Joy N Fun

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote. The first race at Happy Valley on Wednesday is at 12.10pm.

Happy Valley card

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