HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS (Wednesday February 21, 2018) RACE 1: #2 Raichu, #11 King's Steed, #8 Trendiful, #4 Happy Sound RACE 2: #7 Pikachu, #1 Winner's Way, #2 Sichuan Dar, #3 Packing Dragon RACE 3: #5 Oriental Elite, #2 Super Junior, #1 Arizona Blizzard, #3 Sharp Hunter RACE 4: #7 Showing Character, #2 Smart Declaration, #8 Nashashuk, #9 Noble De Boy RACE 5: #12 Good Choice Ahead, #1 Little Island, #5 Sichuan Boss, #9 Enjoy Life RACE 6: #7 Super Fluke, #1 Archippus, #2 Born In China, #5 Mr Genuine RACE 7: #12 Sangria, #1 Ensuring, #8 Ho Ho Feel, #11 Acclaimed Light RACE 8: #2 Ivictory, #4 Radiant Steed,#10 Back In Black, #7 Fairy Twins RACE 9: #9 Affluence Start, #2 Dances With Dragon, #4 Happy Agility, #8 Circuit Hassler RACE 1: YUK SAU HANDICAP #2 Raichu has been running well since dropping down to Class 5. He’s been searching for a race shape like he’s going to get here, with plenty of speed at which he can run at. He will be flying late. #11 King's Steed is racing well enough this season but he just hasn’t been able to get that breakthrough. He has no weight on his back here and he can figure. #8 Trendiful has been showing signs of life again at his last two starts. He has an awkward draw here but if he can get into a handy spot, he can finish around the mark. #4 Happy Sound will be suited back to 1000m. With a good draw, he can’t be dismissed. RACE 2: SHAN KWONG HANDICAP #7 Pikachu has long been a consistent galloper, not quite up to the class of many of these but honest enough. He looks suited in this spot though with only 113 pounds on his back, particularly given Winner’s Way and Packing Dragon are both likely to push on – and they could conceivably be joined by others, too. He should enjoy a nice run on the back of the speed and he can pick up a first Class 1 victory here. If #1 Winner's Way doesn’t receive too much pressure, he shapes as the one to beat here, even with 133 pounds to carry. He was disadvantaged by stablemate Peniaphobia pressing on last time out and should be forgiven for that. #2 Sichuan Dar drops back to handicap company but finds himself 12 points higher than when he last contested one of these in October, so that’s a query. #3 Packing Dragon can’t be overlooked with Matthew Poon taking his impost down to 117 pounds. RACE 3: VILLAGE HANDICAP #5 Oriental Elite may have only finished seventh on debut, but in flying home from near the rear, he produced the fastest last 400m recorded over the Happy Valley 1000m in nearly three years. Granted, it was a race where everything was entitled to run a fast last split, but he still deserves credit for producing that sort of sectional at his first start. The step up to 1200m suits and though he has an awkward gate, he should be able to get into the finish. #2 Super Junior has not run since early December, when he ran well from a long way back on IJC night. He has a better draw here and should be able to settle further forward, so should be in the mix. #1 Arizona Blizzard has mainly raced on the dirt, but he has produced some OK runs on turf and should be capable of winning now down in Class 4. #3 Sharp Hunter should also be around the mark. RACE 4: TSUI MAN HANDICAP #7 Showing Character has been racing well this season. He now drops back down into a better gate in two and he will get into the finish with even luck. #2 Smart Declaration returns to Class 4 for the first time in almost three years. He has not done much in his last three starts but he gets Zac Purton aboard now with the class drop. He deserves consideration now. #8 Nashashuk won off a higher mark in June but was disqualified. He has had two runs since and the latest was a solid enough effort. He can’t be dismissed. #9 Noble De Boy gets the blinkers back on and looks capable of figuring. RACE 5: YIK YAM HANDICAP #12 Good Choice Ahead was ridden upside down last time out, when only getting into the field as a standby starter, and his effort is best forgotten. Before that , he had been rounding into form and if he reverts to quieter tactics, he’s capable of breaking through on his current mark. #1 Little Island was backed off the map when getting down to Class 4 for the first time earlier this season and was able to salute. He is likely to have plenty of support here back in that grade with Zac Purton jumping back aboard and he shapes as the main danger. #5 Sichuan Boss and #9 Enjoy Life are both racing well and can hit the board. RACE 6: THE HAPPY VALLEY TROPHY #7 Super Fluke has been a rejuvenated galloper this season, winning four of his five starts and climbing from 65 to 93 in the ratings. It is hard to see him climbing much higher in the ratings and he may be at his peak now, but with 119 pounds in this spot, he deserves one more chance in his current form. #1 Archippus so rarely runs a bad race, it was a shock to see him finish last in the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy last time out. However, he was without cover and overraced throughout, so he deserves to be forgiven, especially given he has trialled well since. Even with 133 pounds, he’s capable of finishing over the top here. #2 Born In China is injury-prone but he’s got plenty of talent when on song. Don’t underestimate him here. #5 Mr Genuine is an epitome of his name, finishing in the top four at all nine runs this season without winning. He carries only 116 pounds with Matthew Poon aboard and he will be tough to run down. RACE 7: SING WOO HANDICAP #12 Sangria steps back up to Class 3 now after finally breaking through last time out. He will likely get back in the field but from what he showed last time out, he should be able to measure up in this grade, particularly over this trip. #1 Ensuring is one of the few acquisitions that freshman trainer Frankie Lor has not been able to win with, although the seven-year-old has finished in the placings at all five starts. He has the outside gate but with even luck, he will be in the finish again. #8 Ho Ho Feel is getting back down to a rating where he can prove competitive, although he is another plagued by a wide gate. #11 Acclaimed Light was restrained last time out and ran home solidly. He’s a threat here if ridden further forward. RACE 8: BLUE POOL HANDICAP #2 Ivictory returned from almost seven months on the sidelines with an imposing victory at Sha Tin last time out. He makes his Happy Valley debut here and it looks like a piece of shrewd placement by John Size in an extended Class 3. He has to contend with a wide barrier but he looks progressive and should be able to win off this rating. #4 Radiant Steed has looked a different horse since switching to Richard Gibson and he has won his last two very comfortably under jockey Alexis Badel, who has now returned to France. His compatriot Pierre-Charles Boudot takes over in the saddle and he can continue to progress. #10 Back In Black looks on the cusp of returning to form, while #7 Fairy Twins can run well again in this spot. RACE 9: KING KWONG HANDICAP #9 Affluence Start ran with distinction at his first start at Happy Valley but hasn’t quite measured up to that level in three starts since at Sha Tin. Stepping up to the Happy Valley 1650m here, with a good gate to boot, he looks hard to run down. #2 Dances With Dragon impressed over the straight 1000m first time out, but has not been able to get into the frame at his last two. The New Zealand G1 winner is well-placed in this extended Class 3 and he can’t be overlooked. #4 Happy Agility is always a chance in this grade and deserves consideration. #8 Circuit Hassler needs things to go his way but he’s a place chance.