Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, May 26, 2021

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, May 26, 2021)

Race 1: #10 Xiang Lan Qi, #7 Smiling Face, #4 Dr Proactive, #8 Star Superior
Race 2: #3 Smart Hunter, #2 Great Harvest, #9 Yee Cheong Lucky, #10 Shanghai Power
Race 3: #3 Ka Ying Excellent, #6 Surrealism, #4 Right Choice, #1 C P Brave
Race 4: #8 Moonluck, #11 Won Ball, #1 A La King, #3 Telecom Rocket
Race 5: #2 Fa Fa, #12 Manna From Heaven, #1 Piano Solo, #4 Superb Daddy
Race 6: #1 Falcon Turbo, #2 Mr Lumieres, #3 Telecom Smart, #10 Casa Kingdom
Race 7: #11 Wild West Wing, #3 Dancing Fighter, #5 Harmony N Blessed, #2 Larson
Race 8: #2 Solar Wai Wai, #4 Savaquin, #5 Enjoying, #8 Conqueror
Race 9: #12 Exuberant, #4 Majestic Star, #1 Loving A Boom, #6 Red Titan

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Race 1: Whitfield Handicap (1st Section)

#10 Xiang Lan Qi is closing in on a first Hong Kong win. He draws gate one here which suits and the booking of Alexis Badel should see him get every chance to breakthrough. #7 Smiling Face gets the services of Joao Moreira. Suspect he’s ready to perform now at his second run in Class 5. #4 Dr Proactive has been a frustrating horse all season. Still, he draws well and once again rates as a leading player in his spot. #8 Star Superior is not without a hope. He’s next best.

Race 2: Whitfield Handicap (2nd Section)

#3 Smart Hunter mixes his form but has shown his capabilities on his day. He has to overcome the awkward gate but in this grade and over this course and distance, he has shown previously that he is capable. #2 Great Harvest is looking to go back-to-back. He draws well and gets conditions to suit, especially as he remains in Class 5. #9 Yee Cheong Lucky is on the steady improve for the new yard. He bears close watching. #10 Shanghai Power is worth including.

Race 3: Merlin Handicap

#3 Ka Ying Excellent should be able to roll forward from the good gate and play catch me if you can from there. He’s trialled well since his last-start failure and he appears more than capable of bouncing back to his best under Zac Purton. #6 Surrealism is racing in career-best form. He’s gone close his past few runs and with the right run in transit this time, he looks capable of challenging this lot. #4 Right Choice is racing well in this grade. He gets the in-form Blake Shinn up, who on Sunday, collected a double. #1 C P Brave logged an impressive first-past-the-post trial effort recently. He commands respect.

Race 4: Tong Shui Handicap (2nd Section)

#8 Moonluck closed off stoutly for a narrow fifth last start. He’s open to further improvement here and the retention of Zac Purton’s services commands respect. #11 Won Ball mixes his form but draws well this time around. He’s slowly coming to hand. #1 A La King won nicely on debut before struggling in his most recent two outings. It wouldn’t surprise to see him bounce back. #3 Telecom Rocket is nothing short of consistent. He gets his chance again.

Race 5: Westlands Handicap

#2 Fa Fa got off the mark in style last start. He’s looking for back-to-back wins and in his favour is that he remains in Class 4 following that triumph. Vincent Ho sticks aboard and he’s found another winnable contest. #12 Manna From Heaven slots in light and steps out off the back of two impressive runs for first and second, respectively. #1 Piano Solo has taken his time to acclimatise. Still, he appears to have found his feet in Class 4 and the inside gate should afford him every opportunity to finish strongly. #4 Superb Daddy gets his chance.

Race 6: Tong Shui Handicap (1st Section)

#1 Falcon Turbo is racing well back in Class 4. He’s a three-time winner in Class 3 who has a significant class edge on his rivals here. #2 Mr Lumieres is another who relishes racing in the weaker grade. He owns a powerful finish which could see him challenge this bunch. #3 Telecom Smart is looking to snap consecutive runner-up efforts. He’s in-form and not without a chance from the inside gate. #10 Casa Kingdom turned his form around to finish a close-up fifth last start. He commands respect with Joao Moreira up.

Race 7: Java Handicap

#11 Wild West Wing is consistent in his spot. He gets a handy weight relief from his rivals at the bottom of the handicap as a two-time course and distance winner he shapes as the one to beat. #3 Dancing Fighter is becoming a costly conveyance. Still, he can roll forward and make his own luck, especially from the good gate. #5 Harmony N Blessed has mixed his form since winning back-to-back races at his first two starts. Still, he’s closing in on a solid patch of form which holds him in good stead here. #2 Larson is consistent. He bears close watching.

Race 8: Fort Handicap

#2 Solar Wai Wai does his best racing at Happy Valley and he makes a favourable return to the city circuit here. He gets his chance back at his preferred course which should allow him bring out his best. #4 Savaquin is racing well and steps back in grade after finishing a commendable sixth in the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup. Zac Purton hops up now and he’s a threat. #5 Enjoying is better than his record suggests. It wouldn’t surprise to see him bounce out of the ground at any time. #8 Conqueror is worth including from the good gate.

Race 9: Marble Handicap

#12 Exuberant steps up in to Class 3 for the first time off the back of a stylish course and distance win last start. He gets a handy relief in weight here which should give him every chance to snag another win, this time under the in-form Karis Teetan. #4 Majestic Star is also a last-start winner. He won with plenty in hand that day and does remain in the grade which suits. #1 Loving A Boom has a powerful finish when required. He can finish off for prize money. #6 Red Titan steps out on debut. He brings over some solid form from Ireland which includes a solid fifth to two-time G1 winner, Mac Swiney at G2 level.