Hong Kong racing tips: Jim McGrath with three selections at Sha Tin on Wednesday

Nebraskan
12.15 Sha Tin
2pts win

Must Go
2.15 Sha Tin
2pts win

Talents Ambition
2.50 Sha Tin
2pts win

John Size has made a triumphant return after a frustrating start to the season and can carry on the good work with the promising Nebraskan in the Class 4 6f handicap sprint (12.15) on a challenging all-dirt card at Sha Tin.

This pre-Christmas fixture is lacking one key ingredient as champion jockey Zac Purton has given up his seven rides, citing exhaustion after a prolonged stint of wasting on top of his usual busy schedule.

Purton has ridden Nebraskan three times but James McDonald was on board for the gelding’s most recent outing when he battled on well for a creditable second to Aca Power on only his second run on dirt.

He clearly has plenty of ability despite being a ten-start maiden locally. He easily won both his starts New South Wales before export, and he has plenty going for him here with McDonald in the saddle. Dragon Air Force is his danger.

Size sent out a four-timer on Sunday, to add to the double he saddled at Happy Valley four days earlier, and while he remains in the middle ranks in the trainers’ championship, it sent out a strong message that his team are in cracking form.

As well as Nebraskan, Size sends out the consistent Must Go, who will be hard to beat in the Class 3 6f handicap (2.15), in which McDonald's mount Self Improvement is the main rival in a tricky race.

Must Go is dropping in trip after finding a mile too taxing last time. Earlier, he had twice been second over course and distance and it is worth noting his only two wins locally have been on dirt.  With Brenton Avdulla booked, he has every chance.

Keagan De Melo, who has been struggling this season, has picked up the ride on Fighting Machine from Purton in the Class 3 handicap over the extended mile (2.50), but he will have his work cut out to fend off the Mark Newnham-trained Talents Ambition and Hugh Bowman.

Talents Ambition, by Into Mischief, has an American dirt pedigree and, not surprisingly, he finds himself totally at home on the Sha Tin dirt.  He has gone up 7lb in the ratings for his recent win but is lightly raced and improving.

Sha Tin Placepot perm

12.15
2 Nebraskan
7 Dragon Air Force

12.45
1 Golden Long
9 Lightning Bolt

1.15
2 Excel Wongchoy
8 Hakka Radiance

1.45
4 Reliable Profit
7 Jumbo Fortune

2.15
2 Self Improvement
8 Must Go

2.50
4 Talents Ambition
7 Fighting Machine

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 Sha Tin on Wednesday is at 11.15am

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