Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, May 17, 2023

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, May 17, 2023)

Race 1: #3 Nordic Combined, #6 Double Show, #10 Alloy King, #2 Jack Win
Race 2: #1 Romantic Laos, #6 Palace Pal, #9 Choicerus, #10 Perfect To Great
Race 3: #12 Sure Joyful, #8 Cheong Fat, #10 Speedy Chariot, #11 Young Life Forever
Race 4: #2 Win Win Fighter, #1 Holy Power, #9 Beau Gosse, #12 Right Honourable
Race 5: #6 King Invincible, #10 Oversubscribed, #2 G One Excellent, #1 Savvy Delight
Race 6: #10 Precision Goal, #9 Above All, #5 One For All, #3 Snowalot
Race 7: #1 Tianchi Monster, #6 Up And Up, #3 Meaningful Star, #7 Majestic Victory
Race 8: #10 Grateful Heart, #6 Howdeepisyourlove, #7 Packing Treadmill, #3 Whizz Kid
Race 9: #6 Brave Star, #1 Family Folks, #7 Nicconi County, #2 Son Pak Fu

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, analysis, replays, and live streaming

Race 1: Waterfall Bay Handicap

#3 Nordic Combined has appeared a winner in waiting for some time. He’s raced well in the grade above and that form should see him prove too strong here. The challenge will be overcoming the wide draw. #6 Double Show gets the right barrier and can turn his form around following a lacklustre effort last start. Strong booking of Lyle Hewitson holds him in good stead. Ready to win. #10 Alloy King has the right draw. He’ll be fighting out the finish. #2 Jack Win is after back-to-back wins. He’s next in line.

Race 2: Tathong Channel Handicap (2nd Section)

#1 Romantic Laos has a stack of class and he looks capable of winning this one. Zac Purton retains the ride and any replication of his last two performances should see him prove tough to get past. #6 Palace Pal should arguably already be a winner. He’s drawn ideally for Hugh Bowman this week. #9 Choicerus has shown steady improvement. He can continue that upward trajectory here. #10 Perfect To Great put in a total forgive run last start. He can return to form at his preferred course.

Race 3: Siu Sai Wan Handicap (1st Section)

#12 Sure Joyful went close last time out and he appears well placed to atone for that effort here. He slots in light, gets a handy pull in weight and shapes as the one they all must catch for Brenton Avdulla. #8 Cheong Fat continues to improve and he’s capable of taking another step in the right direction. #10 Speedy Chariot has shown rapid improvement lately. He’s drawn awkward but will be running on strongly. #11 Young Life Forever travelled wide and had excuses last time out. He’s closing in on a first win.

Race 4: Tathong Channel Handicap (1st Section)

#2 Win Win Fighter was beaten by the barrier last start which forced him to settle last in the run. Expecting he takes a forward position here from the slightly better draw. His last four runs in Class 4 have returned two wins. One to beat. #1 Holy Power is lightly raced but continues to advance. He’s consistent and the inside draw should afford him a shot under Zac Purton. #9 Beau Gosse has mixed his form but is showing the right signs. He gets an opportunity. #12 Right Honourable is next best. He can figure.

Race 5: Sha Wan Handicap

#6 King Invincible has hit the ground running in Hong Kong with two eye-catching efforts at Happy Valley from awkward draws. He gets barrier three here and a clean run should see him prove hard to beat. #10 Oversubscribed is expected to settle at the tail of the field. He has a powerful finish when required. Take an each way ticket. #2 G One Excellent continues to hold his condition. He’s a three-time winner from his last four outings. #1 Savvy Delight is racing well. He’s well suited in Class 4 with Zac Purton.

Race 6: Siu Sai Wan Handicap (2nd Section)

#10 Precision Goal turned his form around by leading from the get-go last start. Expect he tries the same again from an even better draw this week. He can save ground along the rail and outrun this group. #9 Above All turned his form around last time out and another good draw should give him his chance. He’ll be right there when it matters most. #5 One For All is chasing a hat-trick of wins. He continues to impress and does shape as a leading pace influence. #3 Snowalot is racing with plenty of merit. Next in line.

Race 7: Kong Sin Wan Handicap

#1 Tianchi Monster draws ideally and is deserving of a first win this campaign. Chances are there’s a little bit of rain around this week which favours him. One to beat, especially in this grade and off this mark for Hugh Bowman. #6 Up And Up did well to finish fourth on debut in Hong Kong. He clearly has the ability and his acclimatisation has been swift. #3 Meaningful Star is knocking on the door after a lengthy lay off with injury. He can make his presence felt. #7 Majestic Victory narrowly missed last start. Keep safe.

Race 8: Victoria Harbour Handicap

#10 Grateful Heart continues to race well with the right opportunity and he’s shown across recent starts that another win is close. Taking a chance on him at odds here, especially from an inside gate, which should afford him the right run. #6 Howdeepisyourlove could be a very, very short-priced favourite. He’ll need to lift his game again and at the short quote, he appears worth opposing. #7 Packing Treadmill travelled wide last time out. He can atone. #3 Whizz Kid should set the pace. Keep safe.

Race 9: Aldrich Bay Handicap

#6 Brave Star continues to improve each start. He’s racing in the right vein of form and his latest placing behind Nordic Dragon is form that reads very well for this contest. One to beat, especially from a good gate with Vincent Ho sticking aboard. #1 Family Folks makes the dip to Class 3. He’ll relish the drop in grade. #7 Nicconi County is racing well and finally draws a good gate. He’ll make his presence felt for Hugh Bowman. #2 Son Pak Fu is chasing a fifth consecutive win. The wide gate will make things tricky.