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

Fatal Blow
12.10 Happy Valley
2pts win

Ninja Derby
1.10 Happy Valley
2pts win

Youthful Spirits
1.45 Happy Valley
2pts win

Former Sydney trainer Mark Newnham, who continues to make a favourable impression in his second Hong Kong season, saddles six runners on the nine-race card at Happy Valley, headed by Fatal Blow in the 6f handicap (12.10).

Newnham is tied for second in the championship with 20 winners, only three behind leader Pierre Ng, and he has plenty of unexposed talent still to come with the season just starting to take shape.

Fatal Blow has shown plenty of potential, having finished an encouraging third on his debut before landing the money on his next start, scraping home by a short head over course and distance.

The son of Russian Revolution has gone up 6lb in the handicap and must overcome a wide draw (ten), but he will go close to winning again for Luke Ferraris. The danger is Andrea Atzeni’s mount Affirm, who is 0-17 but more than capable of running well off his present mark.

Newnham and Ferraris also have excellent prospects later on the card with the lightly raced Youthful Spirits in the 5f handicap (1.45). The son of Shamus Award tried to lead all the way on his last start but was overhauled by Healthy Healthy and Eternal Fortune.

The five-year-old is one of those rare types who is a specialist over the minimum trip, something of which connections are well aware. This is a fine opportunity to put another win on the board.

Atzeni will again be there or thereabouts on the Frankie Lor-trained Heroic Master, who will be popular with punters in a wide-open race. The six-year-old ran on well from back in the field to finish second to Fast Network on the straight 5f course at Sha Tin last time, but is better at the city track.

Zac Purton continues to fire in the winners, getting closer all the while to Douglas Whyte’s all-time career record, and he can add to his tally aboard the Tony Cruz-trained Ninja Derby in the 1m½f handicap (1.10).

Both of the five-year-old's wins came here, albeit in a lower grade, but from a favourable inside draw (4) Purton can ensure he gets the run of the race. Take Action, with James McDonald in the saddle, is the main threat.

Happy Valley Placepot perm

12.10
3 Fatal Blow
8 Affirm

12.40
9 Me Time
12 Kingly Demeanor

1.10
6 Take Action
8 Ninja Derby

1.45
4 Youthful Spirits
10 Heroic Master

2.15
1 Yee Cheong Spirit
3 California Deeply

2.50
6 Chain Of Gold
7 I Can

2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote. The first race at Happy Valley on Wednesday is at 10.40am

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