Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, March 8, 2023

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, March 08, 2023)

Race 1: #2 Durham Star, #10 Son Pak Fu, #12 Dragon Kingdom, #3 Divine Era
Race 2: #2 Universal Crown, #10 Day Day Rich, #3 Aca Power, #4 Smart Folks
Race 3: #1 Samarkand, #2 Fearless Fire, #3 Eighteen Palms, #4 Proud Dragon
Race 4: #3 Kung Fu Tea, #1 Copartner Era, #9 Sunny Baby, #12 King Of The Court
Race 5: #1 Super Vince, #3 Wind Speeder, #7 E Universe, #8 Sight Hero
Race 6: #5 Savvy Kingman, #11 Pegasus General, #1 Tianchi Monster, #3 Meaningful Star
Race 7: #1 Excellent Peers, #4 Solid Impact, #2 Yo Beauty, #11 Stormtrouper
Race 8: #7 Namjong Sings, #3 Winning Icey, #5 Xponential, #2 Heroic Master
Race 9: #3 Astrologer, #10 Rock Ya Heart, #4 Carroll Street, #7 Toronado Phantom

Race 1: Leighton Handicap (1st Section)

#2 Durham Star has consistency on his side and with a few favours he looks well placed to win. The draw is ideal and his best form over this course and distance holds him in good stead. #10 Son Pak Fu was an impressive winner last time out. He should get the run of the race from the inside draw. #12 Dragon Kingdom mixes his form but barrier one should see him take close order with ease. He gets his opportunity. #3 Divine Era is chasing a hat-trick of wins. Keep safe.

Race 2: Bowrington Handicap

#2 Universal Crown is showing steady signs of improvement racing in the bottom grade. He gets the right draw here which should see him save ground throughout. #10 Day Day Rich is unlucky not to already be a winner. Chances are he flies the lids to lead and from there takes a bit of reeling in, especially from gate one. #3 Aca Power was impressive for victory last start. He’ll need to get going earlier this time if he is to be a threat here, especially at Happy Valley. #4 Smart Folks is next in line.

Race 3: Canal Handicap (1st Section)

Expecting #1 Samarkand to roll forward in a bid to pinch this contest. He has a bit of class and his forward-style of racing can see him rewarded here. #2 Fearless Fire gets the right draw. He knows what it’s all about and is in the right vein of form at the minute. #3 Eighteen Palms is doing everything right except win. Still, he’s showing his class early on and does get his chance once more. #4 Proud Dragon is likely to get back in the run. He might have too much work to do late but he should be closing fast.

Race 4: Canal Handicap (2nd Section)

#3 Kung Fu Tea should get the right favours from barrier four. He’s racing well and has shown in the past that he can remove luck from the equation by settling in the first half of the field. He’s the one to beat. #1 Copartner Era has the class but does need to offset the hefty impost that comes with it. #9 Sunny Baby slots in light and appears to be in the right vein of form at the minute. #12 King Of The Court has more ability than what his form reads. Still, he’s up against it this week from the wide draw.

Race 5: The Craigengower Cricket Club Challenge Cup Handicap (2nd Section)

#1 Super Vince is on the steady improve each and every time he runs. He has the ability and he was sound in defeat last start as he flashed home to finish an unlucky fourth. #3 Wind Speeder bounced back into form last time out. He’ll get every chance if he can remain at that level of racing here. #7 E Universe did well to grab fourth on debut. Hugh Bowman hops up now and he is open to improvement. #8 Sight Hero knows what it’s all about. The inside gate should afford him his opportunity.

Race 6: Percival Handicap

#5 Savvy Kingman is useful and the inside draw at Happy Valley should assist him with a return to his best form. He’s racing off a competitive mark at the moment and his previous best is rather good. #11 Pegasus General continues to improve. He tends to mix his form but off a light weight he remains a major threat. #1 Tianchi Monster is closing in on another win. He has the hefty impost to offset but the inside draw is exactly what he requires to do so. #3 Meaningful Star has claims. Keep safe.

Race 7: Russell Handicap (1st Section)

#1 Excellent Peers has consistency on his side and is a two-time winner already this season. He’s posted some smart times over this course and distance in the past and looks the winner here. #4 Solid Impact is chasing back-to-back wins. He was a winner in waiting, so that effort was well-deserved. #2 Yo Beauty is expected to lead from gate one. He could take a bit of catching, if he’s left alone out there. #11 Stormtrouper knows how to run well without winning. Expect he finishes fast once more.

Race 8: Russell Handicap (2nd Section)

#7 Namjong Sings tends to do very little wrong in his races. He’s performed well this season and gets another excellent chance this week to reward his owners with a win. #3 Winning Icey doesn’t know how to run a bad race. He has a powerful finish, however, this has proven costly of late having returned several near misses. #5 Xponential loves the course and distance. This is a tightly handicapped contest that he may require a bit of luck in, especially from the wide draw. #2 Heroic Master is next best.

Race 9: Wong Nai Chung Handicap

#3 Astrologer is chasing back-to-back wins. He was impressive last time out and does look capable of taking another step forward here. The step back in distance shouldn’t be an issue. #10 Rock Ya Heart is consistent and should take up a forward position from the draw. He’ll get every opportunity. #4 Carroll Street is after back-to-back wins. He returned in excellent order last start, however, he has proven to be much better down the straight at Sha Tin. #7 Toronado Phantom won’t be too far away.