Andrew Hawkins' Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, January 30, 2019

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday January 30, 2019)

RACE 1: #7 Regency Honey, #6 Raichu, #9 Sunny Orient, #1 The Show
RACE 2: #6 Exceptional Desire, #4 General Iron, #1 Jolly Bountiful, #8 Chaparral Star
RACE 3: #8 Winwin Ruby, #3 Multigogo, #4 Charity Wings, #1 All You Know
RACE 4: #9 Love Chunghwa, #11 Gouten Of Garo, #1 Super Lucky, #7 Iron Bravo
RACE 5: #3 Smart Leader, #6 Right Honourable, #12 Starlit Knight, #8 Penang Hall
RACE 6: #3 Red Warrior, #5 Circuit Glory, #7 Winning Faith, #2 Packing Dragon
RACE 7: #11 Gentle Breeze, #6 Most Beautiful, #1 Moment Of Power, #9 Team Spirit
RACE 8: #1 Super Turbo, #3 Country Star, #7 Super Hoppy, #12 Seven Heavens

RACE 1: MURRAY HANDICAP

#7 Regency Honey should be able to lead here. He should be in front turning for home, it’s just a matter of whether he’ll be able to hold the late challengers at bay. #6 Raichu should enjoy a nice run midfield off a solid speed. He can get home well if the splits open up at the right time. #9 Sunny Orient is his own worst enemy but his last effort showed that he has a win in him soon. He’s worth watching here at his second start for Benno Yung. #1 The Show is racing well enough to get into the finish.

RACE 2: LAMBETH HANDICAP

#6 Exceptional Desire showed a return to form last time out, finishing fourth over this course and distance behind Super Lucky. He should enjoy a nice run again here and he can take victory with even luck. #4 General Iron returns to the 1200m here. He’s looking as though he’d appreciate stepping up in trip again and so he deserves respect in here. #1 Jolly Bountiful is racing fairly consistently. He did well to get within a nose last time out and a similar effort will see him go close. #8 Chaparral Star is interesting dropping in trip. He will be finding the line late.

RACE 3: EDINBURGH HANDICAP

#8 Winwin Ruby showed last time out that he might be able to return to form soon enough. Coming back to Happy Valley might be a shrewd move too and he maps well. He’s a big player. #3 Multigogo may get out to lead and he’s always dangerous when he can adopt that role. He can’t be overlooked. #4 Charity Wings is racing well enough and the claim of Victor Wong ensures that he gets in with a nice weight. He’s a player. #1 All You Know is next best.

RACE 4: LAMBETH HANDICAP

#9 Love Chunghwa has not won in over a year, but he’s at a mark where he should be able to win at any time. He’s been racing consistently of late and only needs even luck to be able to break through. #11 Gouten Of Garo still remains winless from 15 starts. He has a short sprint so needs to be produced at the right time but he’s not without claims in this event. #1 Super Lucky won very easily at his first start for Caspar Fownes last time out. He’s drawn awkwardly, so will likely go back to last, but he’s capable of flying home over the top. #7 Iron Bravo steps out for the first time. Trainer Chris So has a good record with debutants and he must be included in all exotics.

RACE 5: CONNAUGHT HANDICAP

#3 Smart Leader steps up to the extended mile for the first time in Hong Kong. He has looked like this trip would suit for quite some time. He deserves plenty of respect in here. #6 Right Honourable flew home to just fall short by a head last time out. This rating will always make it tough for him, but he does have a terrific turn of foot on his day and he must be considered. #12 Starlit Knight will likely find himself on the speed and he should be somewhere around the finish. #8 Penang Hall can add value to the exotics.

RACE 6: THE HONG KONG CLUB CHALLENGE CUP

#3 Red Warrior has placed at his last three starts, having been sent out as favourite each time. Hopefully, the market turns on him here, but it’s unlikely as he does look logical in here. He may still even be a BMW Hong Kong Derby smokey if he can run well here. #5 Circuit Glory has been running well this term and finally looks to have figured out his racing manners. This allows Tony Cruz to step him up to 1800m again, where he should prove a leading player. #7 Winning Faith is honest and can’t be dismissed here. #2 Packing Dragon is probably not the same horse he once was but these types of races are where he shines.

RACE 7: CLUB STREET HANDICAP

#11 Gentle Breeze returns to 1000m, having once again shown that 1200m is perhaps a bridge too far at this stage of his career. He should enjoy a nice run just behind the speed and he can score another victory in here with even luck. #6 Most Beautiful is having a good season. He is likely to be around the mark yet again. #1 Moment Of Power returns to Class 3 for the first time this season. He should get out on the speed and he might be able to stay on in this company. #9 Team Spirit steps out over this course and distance for the first time. He looks the type who should be suited and he must be included.

RACE 8: CHATER HANDICAP

#1 Super Turbo will be winding up late, but there is plenty of speed here and if it melts down, he will be flying home strongly. He has plenty of weight, but he’s a capable horse on his day. #3 Country Star faces a tough ask as a three-year-old approaching the top of Class 2. Regency Legend proved it can be done with his Sha Tin win on Sunday and Country Star is drawn to have every chance, but it might be worth trying to find one to beat him. That said, he’s the one to beat. #7 Super Hoppy ran well fresh last time out. A similar effort will see him going close. #12 Seven Heavens returns to Class 2, but he has run well down in grade at his last two starts and he is not without a hope.