Tim Carroll

This Saturday sees a competitive 11-race card from Sha Tin on both the Turf and All-Weather tracks get underway at 9.00am. The feature of the meeting is race 8, the Class 1 Peace Memorial Challenge Cup over 5f, offering more than £370,000 in prize-money.

Now onto this week’s selections…

Race 1: Class 5 Kam Tin River Handicap (9.00am) (6f)

1 AUTUMN VIBES is yet to open his account in 14 starts and goes from the top of the handicap, but he’s only recently dropped into the bottom grade, finishing unplaced with genuine excuses before beaten the narrowest of margins when runner-up over this trip at Happy Valley last time.

It would be a stretch to say he was unlucky that night, but he was tad tardy out of the gates and ended up making his run down the centre of the track, whilst the eventual winner took the low road. The selection was having just his second start for Brett Crawford that night, who has done well with several low grade tried horses that he’s picked up this season.

Dangers:

3 Always Fluke hasn’t won for a long time but was off for nearly a year and has been runner-up three times this season including over course and trip last time, he jumps from the same stall and stays on the same mark.

13 Sonic Boom hasn’t won for nearly two years and that was on dirt, but he has been placed five-times during the current campaign, four of which have been on turf including last time out when beaten less than a length in third one spot behind the selection.

9 Winning Diamond is yet to hit the frame in 12 starts but has shown some improvement recently and drops 2lb in the handicap.

Race 2: Class 5 Kam Tin River Handicap (9.30am) (6f)

3 BASIC INSTINCT, who won one of four starts in New Zealand, showed nothing in his first 14 local starts, with his best result being a fifth of 12 runners when beaten nearly three lengths at Happy Valley last October. He then ran better than the bare result when sixth over course and trip two back when a 105.00 poke on the tote.

On the back of that he went around as a 4.00 second-elect when breaking his duck at Happy Valley last time. He won by a narrow margin that night, but he should have won by further having been held up on the bend- the upside is he only goes up 5lb. He’s been around the block a few times, but sometimes they take a while to find their local legs, and he could have more to come.

Dangers:

1 Sunny Q has just the solitary win from 17 starts but he drops into the bottom grade for the first time with Zac Purton taking over, and he’ll find this more to his liking.

12 Verbier was placed behind Country Dancer last time, who he meets on 5lb better terms for a three-quarter-length margin, and is well drawn for a pace-runner.

2 Country Dancer goes up 5lb for winning over course and trip on a yielding track last time, but he has won on good and he’s still 2lb below his peak winning mark from last season.

Race 3: Class 4 Lam Tsuen River Handicap (10.00am) (6f)

11 KA YING RADIANCE must be showing them something in the mornings as he went off favourite when finishing fourth on debut in behind now seven-time winner Hong Lok Golf before producing four unplaced runs when kept safe in the market.

The David Hayes four-year-old was then off for 10 months before returning with an unplaced effort here early last month, but he was then seen four weeks later when putting in a career-best round to finish runner-up, beaten a lip, behind an unexposed type that looks well above average. He drew high that day and rattled late, but they may be able to have him a tad closer this time, and although he goes up 3lb, chances are he’s a fair bit better than his current mark of 47.

Dangers:

10 Little Monster opened his account over course and trip two back then met with trouble last time with the offending rider handed a ban, finishing fifth, and he should bounce back with a clear round.

1 Armour War Eagle has just the one local win to his name which came over a year ago but he’s just 2lb below his winning mark due to his consistency, and whilst he concedes weight and has a tricky draw, this will be the first time he’s contested a Class 4 on turf.

6 Genius Baby, who recorded his solitary local win from a 5lb lower mark at Happy Valley last December, has finished top four in six of his eight subsequent starts and does have a favourable draw.

Race 4: Class 4 Nam Chung River Handicap (10.30am) (1m 2f)

4 ENTHRALLED doesn’t do a lot of winning, but he's consistent, he stays, and the race maps for a solid gallop, which suits his run style. The selection was last season doing his best work late to finish third over 9f on a yielding surface.

The John Size five-year-old's last two runs over this trip have seen him placed twice, finishing third at a level above this when beaten less than a length by a rival that was then runner-up in a Group 3, and then two back when beaten a nose by Double Win when given plenty to do, and who he now meets on 4lb better terms.

Dangers:

14 Star Brose, who has recorded a win and two placed efforts from five starts over 10f-plus this season, was nearly three lengths behind Double Win over course and trip last time, but he’s on 8lb better terms and should have the gun run from the low draw.

2 Double Win has recorded three wins this season, two over course and trip, including last time out and does stay well, though he goes up 6lb to career-high mark.

1 Noisy Boy, who was a 12.00 poke when unplaced in last season Derby, has mostly disappointed since, but he drops into a Class 4 for the first time with a 10lb claimer, which effectively sees him 27lb below his last winning mark (January 2025).

Race 5: Class 4 Ng Tung River Handicap (11.00am) (1m) (Dirt)

12 BULL ATTITUDE, who was unplaced on turf last time, has recorded just the one win from 20 starts but he has run with merit in defeat a few times on this track recently, including when a slightly luckless fourth here two back in behind Night Purosangue, who he meets here on 9lb better terms.

The start prior to that he was runner-up over course and trip when given plenty to do, but finishing less than a length behind the winner, who has subsequently won at Happy Valley. The selection is no leader, but he doesn’t have to be as far back as he was when last seen on this track, and a 2lb drop in the handicap helps.

Dangers:

10 Night Purosangue is a bit hit and miss but can be forgiven an unplaced effort last time when he didn’t enjoy the wet-slow conditions and scoped poorly post-race, but he hacked up the start prior and could bounce back here.

4 Chill Kaka has been placed his last two, including when his rider lost the whip in the straight here last time, and he should have all the favours close to the pace from the low draw.

11 Foremost Teddy has enjoyed the switch to dirt winning three of seven this season, but he moves up in grade under a 6lb penalty for his last start win and is yet to place in five goes this level.

Race 6: Class 4 Lam Tsuen River Handicap (11.30am) (6f)

3 ELEGANT LIFE has won just two of his 22 starts, though both of those wins have come since March, with the selection having only joined the Caspar Fownes yard - who currently heads the trainers title - earlier this season.

The selection, who was third at Happy Valley last time, won at the same venue the start prior, and while both wins have been recorded on the city track, he was third over course and trip when last seen at this track in March, when finishing in behind a rival that has since won at a level above this.

Dangers:

10 Enjoy Golf has a tricky draw, but he does look well in with a 10lb claimer having been third here from this mark under a senior ride last time and dotting up the start prior form effectively 3lb lower.

1 Yee Cheong Glory goes from the top of the handicap, but he’s just 2lb above his last win, he has a favourable draw and is two from five at this level.

4 Grouper shaped with promise when runner-up on debut and although unplaced his next two, he had genuine excuses two back before looking far from comfortable at Happy Valley last time, and Purton now takes over.

Race 7: Class 4 Sha Tau Kok River Handicap (12.05pm) (7f)

1 JOYFUL JOY defied market expectations by winning on debut over course and trip last month. The Mark Newnham three-year-old was sent off a 54.00 poke that day, which is a surprise given the yard are considered one of the more astute establishments.

He does go up 8lb for that win, which sees him at the top of this Class 4 on just his second start, but there was plenty to like about the way he picked up to win a tad cosy. While he undoubtedly has more on his plate with the penalty, he’s the least experienced runner in the contest, he's well drawn, and is entitled to improve further.

Dangers:

5 Gallant Design was runner-up as a beaten favourite over course and trip to the selection last time and he does meet that one on 8lb better terms for a length-and-a-half margin, but he also has a high draw to contend with.

6 Master Lucky has failed to build on his debut win from February, but it’s not as if he’s run poorly during that time, he has placed both tries over this trip and is well drawn for a pace-runner.

7 Solid Car is a 15-start maiden (and a three-time runner in Australia) who is finding it difficult to get on the board, though he continues to run well enough in defeat - placing seven times- and connections will be hoping a first-time tongue strap brings out further improvement.

Race 8: Class 1 Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup (Handicap) (12.35pm) (5f)

2 STELLAR EXPRESS has finished unplaced in his last four, but two of those were in pattern company; one was at Happy Valley - a track he rarely visits - and the other came over 6f - a distance he is zero-from-12 over - meaning none were over course and trip.

However, the selection has been flying over the 5f on this track, winning the last three times he’s been down the straight course here. He does require a career best from his current mark of 102, but a 2lb drop in the handicap sees him just 3lb above his last win here February when he had a few of these in behind.

Dangers:

3 Bottomuptogether won at Happy Valley two starts back before placing there last time, but he has a good record on the straight course - winning two-from-four – and is four-from-six over this trip, and with a 7lb claim he is effectively running from 2lb below his last winning mark.

1 Beauty Waves, who was runner-up to Ka Ying Rising earlier in his career, has just the one win this season but he’s a hard knocking type that has mostly contested pattern-company, and he did win when last seen at this level on the straight course, albeit that was nearly 12 months ago.

8 Brave Star is better over 6f, but there’s plenty of pace in the contest and if he can get a clear round from the high draw, he should be rattling late.

Race 9: Class 3 Beas River Handicap (1.05pm) (1m) (Dirt)

8 RUN RUN SMART will be a bit of a swing as he’s never raced on dirt before and is up against a few that enjoy this track. However, we have seen him at the trails on this track and the all-weather at Conghua, and while he’s naturally a speedy horse and those types do tend to run well at trials, he’s won his last three, including here in March.

The selection has never been over this trip before, though he did win over 7f on his penultimate start. He runs off a mark of 69 here, and even with a 7lb claim he’s still effectively 2lb above his peak winning mark from last time, though he has drawn gate 1 and should take plenty of catching if taking to the surface.

Dangers:

9 Nezha ran better than the bare result when fifth here last time and although he’s been unplaced his last three, he’s a low-mileage type that won here in March at his first try on dirt and he’s a stretch runner that should get a strong gallop.

1 Talents Ambition goes from the top of the handicap, but he enjoys this track and he’s a late closer that needs plenty to aim at and he looks sure to get that here.

2 Victory Sky has recorded three wins on this track this season and purely on form with the 10lb claim looks a major player, but the outside draw tempers enthusiasm.

Race 10: Class 3 Shek Sheung River Handicap (1.40pm) (6f)

6 MR INCREDIBLE could be just that, with the Brett Crawford three-year-old winning two of his three starts, with genuine excuses when beaten here two back. The selection hacked up over course and trip last time, though he does have more on his plate now moving up in grade having been lumped 11lb for that win.

The penalty means he does go into a Class 3 for the first time, carrying just 6lb less than last time. But he was quick on the clock that day, running faster than standard for this grade, and he has plenty in the locker. He also draws down in gate 2 and so should have the gun-run from that spot.

Dangers:

1 Gustosisimo has gone winless this season but he’s an above average type that has until recently been in the grips of the handicapper having only dropped down to this level two back, running with merit in defeat in both, and the race maps favourably from the low draw.

8 Lifeline Express doesn’t do a lot of winning but he’s a consistent type that drops a further 2lb in the handicap, which sees him on the same mark as his most recent success from March of last year.

2 Happy Index has bombed his last two at Happy Valley, but he has a win on three placed efforts from just four goes on this track and with the 7lb claim he is effectively just 1lb above his course-and-trip winning mark in January.

Race 11: Class 3 Tan Shan River Handicap (2.15pm) (7f)

6 CIRCUIT CHAMPION is a low-mileage, progressive five-year-old that’s had just four starts, winning twice over 6f before a better effort than the bare result last time when picking up the bronze at his first try over this trip.

The Danny Shum inmate was a length behind Aeroinvincible that day, who he now meets on 7lb better terms, but he worked to the line strongly despite having to correct off heels at the mid-way mark, which might have even cost him the race. Although a five-year-old, he’s a big lump (1,239lb) with plenty of upside, and I doubt it’s a coincidence that Purton now takes over.

Dangers:

4 Fit For Beauty is a three-time winner this season but has been turned over in his last four, having had a tough run planted out wide after a shocking sequence of high stalls, so he should bounce back from gate 1, though Purton jumps off to ride the selection.

2 Aeroinvincible has been flying of late, winning three of his last four all over course and trip, but he goes up 7lb for his latest success and has a tricky draw for a pace-runner.

7 Do Your Part is if nothing consistent having recorded a win and nine placed efforts form 10 starts this season, and he’s looks better suited this trip having gone over the mile in his last three.

SATURDAY’S PLACEPOT

Saturday’s placepot will be races 6 through to 11. All up we will be playing 54 combinations (3x2x3x3x1x1), which will cost £5.40 for a 10p stake and so on. Good luck!

LEG 1 - 1 YEE CHEONG GLORY 3 ELEGANT LIFE 10 ENJOY GOLF

LEG 2 - 1 JOYFUL JOY 5 GALLANT DESIGN

LEG 3 - 1 BEAUTY WAVES 2 STELLAR EXPRESS 3 BOTTOMUPTOGETHER

LEG 4 - 1 TALENTS AMBITION 8 RUN RUN SMART 9 NEZHA

LEG 5 - 6 MR INCREDIBLE

LEG 6 - 6 CIRCUIT CHAMPION