Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham previews Wednesday's card at Happy Valley live on Sky Sports Racing.
Doubles all round as big six suffer a dry weekend
So much for the notion that the top trainers are dominating HK racing this spring.
The big six went 1-49 at Sha Tin on Saturday, Francis Lui the only one to snag a winner, and there were shocks aplenty headed by Real Gentleman popping up at 157/1.
Doubles were the order of the day for Dennis Yip, Cody Mo, Jerry Chau and Derek Leung, while Zac Purton needs ten more winners to become the first HK rider to reach the 2,000 mark after scoring on Invictus Dragon and Smart Avenue.
Manfred Man added his name to the double club when File fancy Patch Of Stars ended Hot Delight’s unbeaten run in the Class 2 finale and now the spotlight switches to a nine-race card at Happy Valley this Wednesday.
So much Winning
And make no mistake, this is a tough card by any standards.
The Parislongchamp Handicap (3.50) is the feature event and the reliable Silvery Breeze and Awesome Fluke look a likely pair in a race packed with plausible winners.
The Deauville Handicap (3.15) is another complex affair, with Aurio and Somelovefromabove at the head of the market for Zac and Joao, and the temptation to choose Amazing Kid as a value call is tempered by the fact that stall 10 is a measly 2-81 over 1200m when the rail is out wide in the C+3 position.
Winning Now looks speedy and progressive enough to go well from stall 2 in an open-looking Chantilly Handicap at 2.45, but the most appealing midweek puzzles involve a couple of intriguing rematches.
Ace is high for the FGC
The France Galop Cup (1.40) provides a rematch between The Auspicious, Ace War and Liveandletlive, who fought out a driving finish to a similar event over course and distance three weeks ago.
I don’t fancy The Auspicious to confirm the form from a 6lb higher mark, but I do fear the admirably consistent Liveandletlive, especially if Hughie Bowman can secure a soft lead.
But ACE WAR – formerly known as King Of Spain when a dual winner for Gemma Tutty in 2024 – looks the one to be on.
Form figures of 223112 tell the tale of a likeable gelding who has adapted very well to life with Mark Newnham and Ace War’s latest effort was his best yet.
Set plenty to do by the champ, he came home powerfully after being left in a poor position swinging for home and still looks ahead of the game after a 3lb rise to a mark of 65.
Contenders, ready, Gladiator, ready?
Drawing firm conclusions from very early HK market moves is a risky business but it looks like someone has gone for a right swing on Romantic Gladiator in the French May Trophy at 12.40.
Formerly known as Amakhala Warrior when winning 2-2 at Haydock and York for William Knight last year, this Ten Sovereigns gelding is progressing with experience and looked a winner in waiting when splitting All Round winner and Fivefortwo last month.
Purton is aboard for the first time, and the handicapper has been kind in raising Romantic Gladiator by just a pound, but I suspect we are looking at an even money shot here.
And if that’s the case then I will be happy enough to split stakes between all ROUND WINNER and FIVEFORTWO in the hope that the jolly isn’t quite so well treated as the market thinks he is.
Wednesday’s Valley Views
- 12.40: All Round Winner/Fivefortwo
- 13.40: Ace War rematch
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