Tim Carroll

This Wednesday sees a competitive nine-race card from Happy Valley getting underway at 11.40am - live on Sky Sports Racing. The feature of the meeting is race 9, The Class 3 King’s Road Handicap, over 1 mile, offering prize money of more than £200,000.  

Now onto this week's selections.

Race 1: Class 5 Ice House Street Handicap (11.40am) (1 mile 3 furlongs)

3 ROSEWOOD FLEETFOOT was heavily supported at Sha Tin two back when given plenty to do, rattling late to finish runner-up over 9-furlongs. He was then stepped up to this trip when opening his account here at his most recent start when once again attracting plenty of market support. 

He’s been lumped 8lb for the win, but he hacked by nearly 4-lengths that night, seemingly with a bit in hand. He has a high draw and it’s a short run to the first bend over this trip, but he’s taken big steps forward since joining the Ricky Yiu, and if Teetan can slot him in with some cover, he should be more than capable of converting once again from his current lowly mark of 38.

Dangers:

8 Perfect Pairing has a modest record, but he does tend to stay having finished runner up two of his last three when seen over this trip including when well held by the selection two back, who he meets on 8lb better terms.
 
5 Telecom Power started the season off over 6-furlongs, which is the only trip he’s won over, but he ran through the line with purpose when placed over the mile last time, and whilst he’s a complete unknown over this trip, he’s worth keeping on the safe side in exotic bets.
 
1 Forever Glorious has had a lean season but the veteran 8yo drops into this garde for the first time with a 7lb claimer and will find this more to his liking.

Race 2: Class 5 Westlands Road Handicap (12.10pm) (1 mile)

11 ORIENTAL SURPRISE is a long-standing maiden and whilst I doubt too many have lasted 26-starts without a win in the David Hayes camp, even by class 5 standard this is a moderate contest and the selection, who has gone close a few times, has a bit in his favour.
 
The 5yo has had a horrendous run of high stalls, drawing double figures in seven of his last 8 starts, but he did manage to finish runner-up twice in that time. He draws down in 3 here, he’s on a career low mark, 11lb below his best placed effort and Purton, who has gone close on him in the past, gets the call up.

Dangers:

9 All Are Mine usually goes over a tad further and his last win was well over 2-years ago, but he has been placed from up to 7lb higher this campaign and this is a Class 5 full of runners with similar limited profiles. 
 
1 Matsu Victor has failed to recapture the form he showed last season when a twice winner, the most recent of which was from a 15lb higher mark, but this will be just his second spin in the bottom grade, and he should have all the favours from the low draw. 
 
12 The Way We Win is yet to open his account in 23-starts, but he was only narrowly denied when he went from the front last time, something they are likely to try here with the feather weight, and a repeat would see him in the mix.

Race 3: Class 4 Morrison Hill Road Handicap (12.40pm) (1 mile)

1 CASA ROCHESTER, who won a maiden his only start in New Zealand, is into his second season in Hong Kong and will be having just his third run of the year having had an interrupted campaign due to a stifle injury late last year, but he’ll strip fitter for recent efforts and he does take a drop in grade.
 
The selection won over course and trip when last seen at this level in April of last year and although that was from a 3lb lower mark, he did overcome a bit of trouble in the run that night. He may need some luck as they usually like to ride him cold and he does draw the inside, but there looks to be a decent gallop on offer, which will hopefully ensure he has every opportunity.

Dangers:

5 Flying Fortune, who won a maiden his only start in Australia, didn’t show a lot his first few local starts but has been better his last two, he has scope for more and he should land in a forward spot from the low draw.
 
8 Noble Pursuit has gone a long time without winning, although he was a luckless loser earlier in the campaign, but he drops 2lb to a career low mark of 49, and he should have a decent gallop to aim at which suits his run style.
 
6 Take Action doesn’t win out of turn, but he lands here as a last start winner for which he only goes up 5lb, and like the selection, he does enjoy having something to aim at and should be doing his best late.

Race 4: Class 4 Morrison Hill Road Handicap (1.10pm) (1 mile)

5 VIVACIOUS WIN opened his account over course and trip at start 11 last time having gone close a few times prior, and although he has a few runs under his belt, he looks a bit of a slow burner that could easily have plenty more to come.
 
The David Eustace 4yo has been lumped 10lb for the win and that’s a lot, but he did hack up by five-lengths last time having looked the winner a long way from home, and although he enjoyed a nice tow into the race behind the leading three that night, he’s likely to have a similar set-up here from the low draw.

Dangers:

4 Glorious Win has been runner-up his last two and although five-lengths behind the selection last time, he is on 10lb better terms here. 
 
1 Exceed The Limit, who was Listed placed in New Zealand, showed very little his first five local starts but was runner-up here last time which coincided with dropping into this grade and stepping up to this trip for the first time since his New Zealand days.  
 
6 Star Mac, who was placed behind Helios Express in the Classic Mile earlier in his career, has failed to deliver on that promise but he continues to descend the handicap having not been beaten far a couple of times recently and is now 11lb below his winning mark from last season.

Race 5: Class 4 Racing World 50th Anniversary Cup (Handicap) (1.40pm) (6 furlongs)

4 GAMEPLAYER ELITE, who won all three starts in his native Brazil, missed an intended run last month when he played up in the stalls, but he was in flying form prior that, winning two of his previous three and runner-up to a rival that then placed at a level above this at their next start. 
 
Whilst the selection has recorded just those two wins from 21-starts, he has shown notable improvement since joining Douglas Whyte this year, and he moved nice in a recent trial, assumably to supplement for the recent run he missed. He does go up 6lb for his latest win, but he should have the gun run from the low draw.

Dangers:

2 Meowth last win was November 2025 from a 5lb lower mark, but he continues to run with merit in defeat including when runner-up to a rival completing a double last time and connections apply a first-time visor.  

7 Warrior's Dream, who won over this trip from a 4lb lower mark at Sha Tin in March, was beaten under two-lengths at Sha Tin last time have placed here the start prior from the outside stall, and he’s far better drawn here. 
 
11 Lean Master hasn’t won since last season but that was from a 9lb higher mark with a senior rider on, he has a 7lb claim here having been runner-up last time, but he does like to punch forward and has a tough draw.

Race 6: Class 4 Connaught Road Central Handicap (2.10pm) (6 furlongs)

4 GEORGIAN SIGMA is a 5-start maiden that has been turned over as a warm favourite twice, but he’s placed four times and although a speedy type that was picked off late when third over course and trip last time, I think he’ll probably end up on the back of the likely leader (Kind Alloy) with the run of the race.
 
There is plenty of pace in the race, but they are on the A course, which is the second shortest straight (312m) of the seven courses used, and although he seemingly hasn’t gone backward nor forward since his debut, he’s open to further improvement.

Dangers:

3 Good Luck Happy is a low mileage maiden that can be forgiven a poor effort at Sha Tin last time after a tough run planted wide and he was reported to be found lame the next day, he was runner-up two of three over course and trip prior that and should bounce back.  
 
1 Spirit Of Peace continues to run with merit in defeat including last time finishing fourth from a high stall, which was his first spin in a Class 4 since winning nearly a year ago, and he has a more favourable draw this time.  
 
12 King Alloy opened his account over five-furlongs last time, but he has been placed over this trip in the past and although he moves up in grade under a 6lb penalty, he carries 13lb less at this level and is likely to shoot from the front.

Race 7: Class 3 Des Voeux Road Central Handicap (2.45pm) (5 furlongs)

4 TOGETHER WE VALUE, who was a thrice winner in Australia to Listed level, has been placed just one of his 6-starts in Hong Kong, but it was in behind a rival now running around at a level above this and he has run better than the bare result all three starts at Happy Valley, the most recent when he stormed home after a tardy start to finish fourth beaten just over a length.
 
The handicapper drops him a further 1lb and whilst not drawn on the inside, he is better drawn than his previous three starts on this track. Purton now takes over and whilst I wouldn’t expect him to be in the leading few, he should sit a lot closer than last time.

Dangers:

3 Metro Power won over 6-furlongs here in March and he would require a career best off his current mark, but he’s a speedy type well drawn that dotted up over this trip down the straight course at Sha Tin at the start of the season, albeit from an 8lb lower mark.  
 
12 Robot Lucky Star was a beaten favourite when fourth over course and trip last time, and although there were no obvious excuses that day, he was beaten just over a length, he has plenty of upside and lurks form the foot of the handicap with a 2lb claim. 
 
5 Bunta Baby won three of four before an unplaced effort of this mark last time, but he was beaten less than two-lengths from a high draw, and he does enjoy having a solid gallop to aim at, which he should get.

Race 8: Class 3 Leighton Road Handicap (3.15pm) (6 furlongs)

9 ACE CHAMPION, who won a Dundalk maiden for James Murphy his only start in Ireland, is yet to open his local account but he was the subject of a gamble when third over course and trip last time, a race he probably would have won if not momentarily held up at the top of the straight.
 
He blasted home from near last that night, beaten a lip. Adding further merit to the run, he overcame a pace positive set-up where the first two home and the next two in behind sat 1-2-3-4 in the run. I would think they will probably have him a bit closer with the first-time cheek pieces fitted, and he should be winning soon enough off his current mark.

Dangers:

8 Endurance Express, who won a maiden his only start in Australia, shaped with promise when fourth over this trip on his local debut at Sha Tin and he’s a pacey type which is a good fit for this track. 
 
7 The Heir is in great form, landing here on a three-timer but he has more on his plate under a 7lb penalty and whilst he is normally ridden to arrive late, he will have to overcome an outside draw.
 
4 Amazing Kid is a four-time course and trip winner this season and whilst he is now 8lb above his last win, he continues to run well in defeat, beaten less than a length in fourth last time.

Race 9: Class 3 Kings Road Handicap (3.50pm) (1 mile)

5 ROMANTIC GLADIATOR, who won (known as Amakhala Warrior) both starts for William Knight, shaped with some promise a couple of time before breaking his local duck over course and trip last when an even money favourite, which was just his third run over the mile in Hong Kong. 
 
The selection, who is not overly big (984lbs) by Hong Kong standards, does go up 6lb for that, and he did have a perfect trail behind the leaders that night. However, he should have a similar set-up here from the low draw, he still has room for further improvement and it’s worth noting, he won despite scoping poorly the next day.

Dangers:

6 Violet Star, who was a Navan maiden winner (known as Dakota Blue) for Johnny Murtagh, opened his local account over course and trip last time when running through the line with plenty of purpose and although he goes up 6lb for that, he was well backed that night and looks an improving type. 
 
10 Stormi, who strung together a hattrick over course and trip earlier this season, bounced back to form when runner-up here last time and he is well drawn for a pace runner, but he does go up 2lb.
 
3 Definitive has run well enough on the dirt recently but switches back to turf for the first time since November, but he’s only 4lb above his last win, which was over course and trip.

WEDNESDAY’S PLACEPOT

Today’s Tote Placepot will be races 4 through to 9. All up we will be playing 81 combinations (1x3x3x3x1x3), which will cost £8.10 for a 10p stake and so on. Good luck.

LEG 1- 5 VIVACIOUS WIN

LEG 2- 2 MEOWTH 4 GAMEPLAYER ELITE 7 WARRIORS DREAM

LEG 3- 1 SPIRIT OF PEACE 3 GOOD LUCK HAPPY 4 GEORGIAN SIGMA

LEG 4- 3 METRO POWER 4 TOGETHER WE VALUE 12 ROBOT LUCKY STAR

LEG 5- 9 ACE CHAMPION

LEG 6- 5 ROMANTIC GLADIATOR 6 VIOLET STAR 10 STORMI