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

Affordable
12.10 Happy Valley
2pts win

Beauty Destiny
1.45 Happy Valley
2pts win

Eternal Fortune
2.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

James McDonald, back in Hong Kong for his customary pre-Christmas stint, is the jockey to follow at Happy Valley with seven excellent rides, headed by the David Hayes-trained Affordable in the Class 4 1m3f handicap (12.10). 

J-Mac has ridden doubles at each of the three meetings since his return at an impressive 25 per cent strike-rate, maintaining the form that saw him dominate the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival.

He's a first-time booking for 11-start local maiden Affordable, who carries the colours of loyal stable supporter Dr Gene Tsoi – also the owner of Hayes’s 2003 Hong Kong Derby winner Elegant Fashion.

Three points to note about Affordable — he has never been sent off shorter than 35-1 in any of his starts locally; although yet to win in Hong Kong, he won three races in Australia, including in competitive metropolitan handicap company; he gets the trip, having won over 1m2½f at Melbourne’s Sandown Park.

Although he is drawn a tad wide in stall nine, he should be running on strongly and can account for the David Eustace-trained Charity Gain, who won two starts back and has never been out of the first three this season.

McDonald is also selected to land the Class 3 5f handicap (2.15) aboard the Danny Shum-trained Eternal Fortune, who has shown promise, particularly over course and distance in his last two starts.

The gelding raced as Be Here Now, putting together a hat-trick of wins on all-weather tracks at Newcastle and Southwell for Nigel Tinkler prior to export. Although also drawn wide in stall 12, he will have last-time-out winner Horsepower (11) and Zac Purton to keep him company.

Andrea Atzeni has a good affinity with the Frankie Lor-trained Beauty Destiny and the pairing can record another victory in the Class 4 6f handicap (1.45), in which the McDonald-ridden Lightning Bolt is the danger.

Atzeni brought Beauty Destiny from the rear to get up in the dying strides last time and, although up 6lb in the ratings, he can go in again. Storming Dragon, the narrow runner-up last time, has since franked the form.

Happy Valley Placepot

12.10
1 Charity Gain
6 Affordable

12.40
4 Glory Cloud
5 Fatal Blow

1.10
3 Golden Rise
8 Roaring Bebe

1.45
1 Beauty Destiny
4 Lightning Bolt

2.15
4 Horsepower
7 Eternal Fortune

2.50
4 Chain Of Gold
5 Illuminous

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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