Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, December 22, 2021

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, December 22, 2021)

Race 1: #11 Virtus Star, #3 Nitro Express, #7 Happy Jai Jai, #5 Smart Cousin
Race 2: #3 Wild West Wing, #10 Good Beauty, #7 Fortune Hero, #2 Ares
Race 3: #4 Singapore Spirit, #1 Showina, #11 Theta Hedge, #5 Fortune Carrier
Race 4: #8 God Of Dragon, #6 Above, #3 Savvy Kingman, #1 Xiang Bai Qi
Race 5: #12 Travel Glory, #1 Loyal Baby, #9 Dr Winning, #6 Charizard
Race 6: #6 Hero Star, #5 Savvy Delight, #8 Ahead A Head, #11 Melbourne Hall
Race 7: #11 Here Comes Ted, #8 Excellent Chariot, #1 Family Folks, #4 Racing Fighter
Race 8: #7 We The South, #2 Grateful Heart, #5 Kurpany, #4 Hong Kong Win
Race 9: #11 Flaming Passion, #2 Loving A Boom, #10 Colonel, #12 Seizing The Moment

Race 1: Whitfield Handicap

#11 Virtus Star is competitive in his spot. This is a suitable grade, gate, jockey booking and conditions for him to bounce back into a solid vein of form after finishing seventh last start. #3 Nitro Express should relish getting up in trip. He’s racing well and just needs to overcome the hefty impost. #7 Happy Jai Jai gets the services of Joao Moreira. Strong booking which warrants consideration. #5 Smart Cousin is first-up. Don’t discount with the seven-pound claim in use.

Race 2: Merlin Handicap

#3 Wild West Wing is competitive in his spot, especially in this grade. He should get the run of the race under Vagner Borges from gate six. #10 Good Beauty is closing in on a first win. His last two runs have been better than the form guide suggests and now, with Joao Moreira engaged, he looks like a leading contender. #7 Fortune Hero could take catching from the front. He’s capable. #2 Ares has mixed his form of late. Still, he is a two-time course and distance winner with claims.

Race 3: Tong Shui Handicap (1st Section)

#4 Singapore Spirit caught the eye on debut when narrowly missing. Joao Moreira hops up here and he looks like the one to beat. #1 Showina narrowly missed last start. He was scratched at the gates last start due to lameness but since then, his work has appeared good. Expect a big run. #11 Theta Hedge is a light weight chance. Gate three suits and he looks like he’s coming to hand. #5 Fortune Carrier is nothing short of consistent. He can figure with the right run from the good gate.

Race 4: Marble Handicap

#8 God Of Dragon is a two-time winner from his last three starts. He’ll relish a return to the city circuit here which is clearly where he does his best racing. #6 Above has loomed up numerous times of late. He’s in-form and deserves respect getting up to 11 furlongs. #3 Savvy Kingman is the form runner of the race with two wins and two seconds this season. His good fortune can continue here. #1 Xiang Bai Qi has claims at the top of the handicap.

Race 5: Westlands Handicap

#12 Travel Glory is closing in on a first win. He has a powerful finish when required and the light weight once again affords him his chance. Strong booking with Alexis Badel retaining the ride. #1 Loyal Baby is in solid form. He’s unfavoured with top weight as he looks to put three consecutive runner-up efforts behind him. #9 Dr Winning is edging closer to a first win. He’s progressing nicely for the in-form John Size and gate four give him every chance. #6 Charizard is after back-to-back wins. He can be hit and miss at times, however.

Race 6: Tong Shui Handicap (2nd Section)

#6 Hero Star is as solid as they come. He finds a suitable contest here with a nice weight and in the finish he just might find himself in the right spot. #5 Savvy Delight ran a blinder to finish fourth on debut. He’s open to further improvement and is aided by the booking of Joao Moreira. #8 Ahead A Head turned his form around first-up to finish a close-up third. Tricky contest but he’s worth considering. #11 Melbourne Hall is consistent and has claims. Next best.

Race 7: Java Handicap (2nd Section)

David Ferraris could bow out as a winner here with #11 Here Comes Ted. He’s racing well off the back of two placings and gate one should afford him every chance. #8 Excellent Chariot has a bit of class, especially as a three-time winner at Sha Tin. He draws well and is a leading player here. #1 Family Folks charged through late to score in style last start. Gate 11 makes life tricky here but still, he remains in Class 3 which is a plus. #4 Racing Fighter is next best.

Race 8: Fort Handicap

#7 We The South can make his own luck out in front. He’s a speedy type who is favoured from gate four to string this field along. #2 Grateful Heart gets a handy seven-pound claim. He can bounce back from a poor first run, especially with his very strong record at the city circuit. #5 Kurpany is racing well. He’s third-up now with race-fitness on his side. #4 Hong Kong Win can figure from the good gate. He’s a classy type who is proven in this grade as a winner.

Race 9: Java Handicap (1st Section)

#11 Flaming Passion is looking for a hat-trick of wins. He’s in superb form and the light weight enhances his claims as he jumps up to Class 3. #2 Loving A Boom is consistent without winning. He can often give them a head start with his racing pattern but still, a fast-finish ensures him a chance. #10 Colonel should roll forward and take up the running. He’ll give them something to catch. #12 Seizing The Moment is lightly raced and without too much experience. Expect improvement to come with more racing.