One of these races House of Fun is going to have a clean trip – and probably claim a win. A 5-year-old, House of Fun has been beaten a short head and a nose in his last two starts, narrow losses that make him the likely favorite in Wednesday’s $273,346 Mercury Handicap at six furlongs on turf at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong. Trained by John Size, House of Fun is winless in five starts during the current Hong Kong season, which began in September. He has won 5 of 21 races in his career, with all the wins during the 2016-17 Hong Kong season. On Nov. 26, House of Fun broke slow and closed with interest to lose by a short head in a five-furlong handicap on turf at Sha Tin Racecourse. On Dec. 3 at Sha Tin, House of Fun raced in traffic in a six-furlong handicap on the all-weather surface and was beaten a nose. Sam Clipperton was aboard for the Dec. 3 race and has the mount Wednesday. The Mercury Handicap is the last of an eight-race program that begins at 6:15 a.m. Eastern. House of Fun is part of a field of 12 and will carry 132 pounds, one less than topweight Fabulous One, who is likely to set the pace. Wah May Friend was assigned 133 pounds, but apprentice jockey Dylan Mo Hin-tung claims seven pounds. Wah May Friend has won two of his last four starts, including his most recent race – a short head win in a six-furlong handicap on turf at Sha Tin on Dec. 10. Wah May Friend is likely to race from just off the pace. Born in China, a 6-year-old British-bred gelding, is capable of a win. Born in China won a six-furlong handicap on turf at Happy Valley on Nov. 8, closing from just off the pace to prevail by three-quarters of a length. Born in China will have his third start of the current season on Wednesday.