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HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS by Declan Schuster
(Wednesday, November 30, 2022)
Race 1: #4 Shanghai Power, #7 G One Excellent, #11 Raging Blaze, #2 Nextmodel
Race 2: #6 Sight Hero, #7 Mr Fun, #2 High Rise Soldier, #1 Come and Come
Race 3: #2 Palace Pal, #8 Bright Kid, #4 Vincy, #5 Circuit Elite
Race 4: #8 Success Allstars, #7 Medic Elite, #9 Fortune Triple, #2 Owners Star
Race 5: #7 Multimore, #1 Flaming Passion, #9 Rattan Kingdom, #2 Harmony N Home
Race 6: #3 Heroic Master, #1 Atomic Force, #5 Magic Phoenix, #10 California Deeply
Race 7: #10 Rock Ya Heart, #11 Ping Hai Galaxy, #8 Navas Two, #3 Rewarding Together
Race 8: #1 Tianchi Monster, #11 Lucky Diamond, #7 Lovely Laos, #2 Almost Good
Race 1: Bellahouston Handicap
#4 Shanghai Power is competing well and should now be poised to finish third this season. A clean run set in or around midfield should ensure he has every chance. #7 G One Excellent draws well and performed well last start. He is ready to win and has proven in the past that he is more than capable of being seriously competitive. #11 Raging Blaze is getting closer and closer. He’s wrong enough, but Zac Purton’s engagement is a big plus. #2 Nextmodel will park on speed. He is the next best.
Race 2: Ibrox Handicap (Section 2)
#6 Sight Hero is unlucky not to have more wins to his name. He has performed well this season and is clearly in form with three runs under his belt. He can take a closer order from the better draw this time. #7 Mr Fun debuts. Top seed Zac Purton’s strong booking deserves respect. He tried well and looks ready. #2 High Rise Soldier knows what it’s all about. He holds the personal best time over this course and distance. #1 Wine And Wine should come to the fore. Expect him to lead under Angus Chung. Keep yourself safe.
Race 3: Parkhead Handicap
#2 Palace Pal is closing in on a first win in the city. He has shown his qualities and the addition of eyelets should prove essential as he wore them in New Zealand before the import. #8 Bright Kid is in the right vein of form. He narrowly missed out last start and expects another strong showing here. #4 Vincy is in form and looking for another win. He will take the right path from gate three. #5 Circuit Elite should run under Angus Chung, just like he started last time he won. He’s going to get a little lost.
Race 4: Queen’s Park Handicap
#8 Allstars success should be value. He did well in first place to finish third and all he could do is keep him in a very, very good position here. A clean late start should give him every chance of another win, especially on this grade. #7 Medic Elite does everything right except win. However, he is favored once again, especially with Zac Purton engaged. #9 Fortune Triple closed nicely last start at Sha Tin. He can take another step forward here and deserves a return ticket. Owners Star #2 has the class advantage. Keep yourself safe.
Race 5: Ibrox Handicap (Section I)
#7 Multimore returns to second place. He is much better driven for leadership and if they choose to do that here then they could very well catch on a bit. Either way, it’s worth taking a chance to do so, especially with Dylan Mo bouncing back. #1 Flaming Passion was wide and uncovered last start. He can atone for that effort here and is worth a ticket each way, based on his price. #9 Rattan Kingdom is fit and ready to win. Keeping Zac Purton is a big plus. #2 Harmony N Home is the next best thing.
Race 6: St Andrew’s Challenge Quaich Handicap
#3 Heroic Master was impressive last start and looks well placed to make back-to-back wins. He remains in Class 3, which fits, as does Zac Purton’s booking. The #1 powerhouse can lead this group and take it from there. The inside pull fits and it’s worth getting a return ticket. #5 Magic Phoenix is largely overlooked, but has a bit of class about it. Keep yourself safe. #10 California Deeply should improve on second place. He seems to have his fair share of skills.
Race 7: Glasgow Handicap
#10 Rock Ya Heart is going well. He has proven his worth in the past against a number of these runners, notably at Happy Valley, who holds him well. If his luck falls this far, then he can win. #11 Ping Hai Galaxy knows what it’s all about and this is a nice ride for Harry Bentley to take. #8 Navas Two has class but is somewhat chasing a late fourth win. Expect him to handle Happy Valley though, he might need some luck from the back. #3 Rewarding Together can play catch me if you can. He will be there.
Race 8: Isle Of Skye Handicap
#1 Tianchi Monster narrowly missed the last start. He is stepping down in Class 3 and should have every chance in this class to get a late win. He has the class to pull this one off. #11 Lucky Diamond will find the front and give it every chance. Get a round trip ticket for him leading all the way, especially from the lightweight gate two. #7 Lovely Laos is always slow from the gates but has the ability to finish quickly. He caught the eye from the first and should improve here. #2 Almost good is the next best thing.
Declan Schuster grew up loving the sport and getting in shape after Pierro won the 2012 Golden Slipper. His love of racing in Asia and the puzzle of finding winners took him to Hong Kong where he is employed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. His favorite racetrack is Happy Valley.
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