Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Thursday, April 8, 2021

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Thursday, April 8, 2021)

Race 1: #1 Happy Ichiban, #2 Speed To Exceed, #10 Shanghai Power, #4 Joy Master
Race 2: #7 Divine Unicorn, #2 Owners’ Star, #5 Red Elysees, #1 Methane
Race 3: #3 Shining Ace, #2 Grateful Heart, #1 Explosive Witness, #7 Flying Genius
Race 4: #2 Saul’s Special, #8 Fabulous Eight, #7 Keep You Warm, #9 Momentum Galaxy
Race 5: #5 Telecom Smart, #1 Jolly Good Heart, #6 Sea Elite, #3 Super Commander
Race 6: #10 Oriental Amigo, #4 Peak To Peak, #8 Star Of Wuyi, #1 Mr Lumieres
Race 7: #1 Glorious Lover, #6 Rainbow Light, #9 Stay Chill, #4 King Dragon
Race 8: #10 Nordic Warrior, #1 Kinda Cool, #6 Aurora Pegasus, #3 Alcari
Race 9: #1 Bear Again, #3 Incanto Prepared, #5 Helene Wisdom Star, #9 Armor Star

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Race 1: Moreton Handicap

#1 Happy Ichiban makes a welcome step back to Class 5. He’s a winner in this grade previously and it wouldn’t shock to see him go on with it here from the good gate with Alexis Badel engaged. #2 Speed To Exceed is another who steps back in grade. He’s open to improvement now. #10 Shanghai Power bears close watching with Zac Purton booked. #4 Joy Master draws well and should get his chance again.

Race 2: Price Handicap

#7 Divine Unicorn has won in the grade above and since then has been performing well. Matthew Poon gets on well with this horse and he’s shown enough to suggest that another win was nearing. #2 Owners’ Star is consistent in his spot. He commands respect. #5 Red Elysees is racing well without winning. He gets a solid draw and should be able to finish off in this contest. #1 Methane gets a handy seven-pound claim from apprentice Jerry Chau. He can figure with the right run.

Race 3: Clementi Handicap

#3 Shining Ace has returned to a competitive mark. The booking of Joao Moreira bears close watching and from gate five he should get every chance to get back on the board. #2 Grateful Heart has been a revelation this season with four wins to his name. He can’t be discounted with Zac Purton sticking aboard. #1 Explosive Witness is a G3 winner over five furlongs at Sha Tin. He’s also a two-time course and distance who should be able to finish in the money. #7 Flying Genius is in solid form. He slots in light but will need luck from the gate.

Race 4: Cooper Handicap

#2 Saul’s Special draws a gate and rates as a leading player in this contest with Zac Purton engaged. He’s a course and distance winner who with the right run is capable of scoring a long overdue fifth Hong Kong win. #8 Fabulous Eight should roll forward and find the front from gate one. #7 Keep You Warm is consistent. He can figure with the right run. #9 Momentum Galaxy mixes his form but does have a blistering turn of foot on his day. He gets in light and has claims.

Race 5: Moorsom Handicap (2nd Section)

#5 Telecom Smart closed off nicely last start behind runners. There’s a bit of pace in this race and with a clean run he looks open to further improvement. #1 Jolly Good Heart should find the front from gate two. He can take catching as long as he doesn’t get pestered in the lead too much. #6 Sea Elite is one of those who should also roll forward. The seven-pound claim from apprentice Jerry Chau enhances his claims. #3 Super Commander has been competitive in this grade. He should be able to run on.

Race 6: Moorsom Handicap (1st Section)

#10 Oriental Amigo is closing in on a first Hong Kong win. He’s racing well and the booking of Vincent Ho suggests he’s ready to run a big race. #4 Peak To Peak has shown considerable ability early on without winning. Joao Moreira retains the ride following his narrow defeat and he’s likely to roll forward and look the winner at some stage. #8 Star Of Wuyi narrowly missed last start. He’s open to further improvement. #1 Mr Lumieres makes a welcome step back in grade. He can figure as long as he can offset the awkward gate.

Race 7: Perkins Handicap

#1 Glorious Lover is doing everything right without winning. Still, he gets his chance to breakthrough once again and the retention of Zac Purton’s services command respect, especially from gate three. #6 Rainbow Light turned in a career-best performance last start. It wouldn’t surprise to see him go one better here. #9 Stay Chill is looking for back-to-back wins. He remains in Class 4 which suits and is favoured with only 122lb allotted. #4 King Dragon is next best.

Race 8: Creasy Handicap

#10 Nordic Warrior slots in light and has been competitive in this grade previously, including his last-start fourth. He’s worth taking a chance on here to upstage his better credentialed rivals. #1 Kinda Cool is one of those rivals. He gets his chance with Zac Purton engaged from gate three. #6 Aurora Pegasus is slowly recapturing his best. He narrowly missed last start and draws well. #3 Alcari mixes his form. He only needs luck if he is to give them yet another head start.

Race 9: Henderson Handicap

#1 Bear Again can find the front from the good gate and test his rivals here. He is a three-time winner in this grade and he appears to be going well enough at the moment to win this contest. #3 Incanto Prepared rarely runs a bad race. He’s a four-time course and distance winner this season who rates strongly, although, he will need to overcome the tricky gate. #5 Helene Wisdom Star is lightly raced and on the up. He can figure with the right run. #9 Armor Star is competitive in his spot. He just needs luck from the awkward gate.