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

Daring Pursuit
1.40 Happy Valley
2pts win

Gustosisimo
2.10 Happy Valley
2pts win

Stunning Peach
2.55 Happy Valley
2pts win

Hugh Bowman is tipped to come out on top in arguably the most hotly contested Longines International Jockeys’ Championship ever staged when 12 of the world’s elite riders compete in four races at Happy Valley. 

It should be a close-run thing as Ryan Moore also has a couple of potentially decent chances and, more than ever, it will come down to luck and how the races are run. Interlopers can often upset the normal rhythm of a race. 

Bowman’s best chance is Gustosisimo in the final leg of the IJC, the Class 3 6f handicap (2.10). The four-year-old will only have to repeat his last-start effort, when making all from a wide draw, to complete back-to-back wins. 

The Tony Cruz-trained gelding showed ability when recording a hat-trick on Sydney tracks prior to export, and judged on his last performance he has improved since coming to Hong Kong. Last time there was pressure right from the start, yet he pushed through it and won narrowly but well. 

Zac Purton, who initially felt he had drawn only moderately in the IJC races, has strong claims with the Ricky Yiu-trained Giant Leap, who has been promoted in class and gone up 7lb for a comfortable win last time. 

Bowman can also take the second leg of the IJC, the Class 4 1m½f handicap (12.40) with the problematic Jumbo Fortune, who hasn't been out of the first four in his last six starts yet is winless in almost 12 months. Bowman has ridden him once, just under two years ago. 

Trainer David Eustace has fitted a visor for the first time in the hope that the gelding can focus better, and from stall three he should have his chance, although Bowman looks certain to drop him out early before coming with a late swoop. 

It might come down to how Bowman and Moore perform in this race as Moore is aboard Viva Chaleur, who has never lived up to the reputation he brought with him from France, where he was trained by Andre Fabre. Runner-up at two to Perfect Power in the Prix Morny at Deauville and to Modern Games in the Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket, he clearly has ability. 

But he's 0-17 in Hong Kong and has consequently dropped 26lb in the ratings, reaching a level at which he could be dangerous. Trainer Pierre Ng has called for a hood to go with a set of cheekpieces on the gelding and it's left to Moore to do the rest. 

Moore also has an excellent chance on the Caspar Fownes-trained Daring Pursuit in the third leg of the IJC, the Class 3 1m½f handicap (1.40), while Karis Teetan can land the first leg (12.10) aboard Champion Method for Danny Shum.

Purton's best chance on the card is in the final race, after the IJC has concluded, with the Cruz-trained Stunning Peach in the Class 2 1m1f handicap (2.55).

Happy Valley Placepot

12.10
4 Champion Method
10 Parents’ Love

12.40
3 Viva Chaleur
4 Jumbo Fortune

1.10
4 Masterofmyuniverse
10 Smart Fighter

1.40
6 Daring Pursuit
10 Super Unicorn

2.10
2 Gustosisimo
10 Giant Leap

2.55
3 Chill Chibi
8 Stunning Peach

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 10.30am

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