Tim Carroll

Wednesday sees the final meeting of the 2025/26 season, a competitive nine-race card from Happy Valley getting underway at 11.30am, live on Sky Sports Racing. 

The feature of the meeting is race 8, the Class 2 Lucky Patch Handicap (3.10), over 6 furlongs, offering prize money of more than £280,000.

Race 1: Class 5 Silver Grecian Handicap (11.30am) (1 mile)

2 CONRAD THE GREAT will be a bit of a swing as he’s mostly been kept to the dirt track at Sha Tin, but he has placed a couple of times in trials on turf and if taking to the surface he should give this a decent shake now that he drops into the bottom grade for the first time.

The 11- start maiden was runner-up over this trip on the dirt in March and April at a level above this, which is a solid form line for this level. He arrives after a couple of unplaced efforts having been snagged back and given too much to do from high stalls, however, he draws down in 3 here and should be handier than recent spins.

Dangers:

11 Telecom Power rarely wins but he has placed thrice and only once finished outside the top five in five spins when going over course and trip this year and drops a further 2lb to a career low mark.

12 Perfecto Moments is yet to open his account in 20-starts and he draws stall 11 for the third time in his last four spins but he’s been ultra consistent this campaign, placed thrice over course and trip, twice from higher marks and this is a moderate contest.

5 Setanta is a veteran who hasn’t won for over two-years, although that was from an 18lb higher mark and he has run well enough in defeat his last two since dropping into the bottom grade, but he’ll need some luck from the high draw. 

Race 2: Class 4 Fast Most Furious Handicap (12.00pm) (6 furlongs)

9 LOVING VIBES one career success came just over a year ago, but it was from a 2lb higher mark, and the selection has shown a bit of improvement recently which has coincided with joining the Mark Newnham yard.

He’s has had 5 starts for his new trainer, the last four over course and trip, drawing double figure stalls the first three but still finishing runner-up here two back before beaten a lip last time behind a favourite when finally getting a low draw. The selection tends to run his best races when he can punch forward, which he should be able to do here from stall 5, and Andrea Atzeni, who has had his best season to date, sticks solid.

Dangers:

2 Winning Money, who won over course and trip in January, has found it difficult to get his head back in front since and one could argue that’s down to his current mark, but he’s run well enough in defeat from high draws a couple of times and although he’s drawn toward the outside again, he looks the likely leader. 

4 Genius Baby has been kept to Sha Tin his last three starts, but he was successful over course and trip in December from just 3lb lower and connections try a visor for the first time.

1 Find My love is a hard knocking 7yo that is hard to catch, and he did run below par last time when on the sharp end of the betting, but he won over course and trip two back and would be a live chance if in the same mood. 

Race 3: Class 4 Turin Warrior Handicap (12.30pm) (9 furlongs)

10 KYRUS TREASURE was heavily supported when dropping into Class 5 company for the first time at his most recent start and he justified the market confidence that night when cruising to victory over course and trip. 

The selection moves back up into Class 4 company under a 7lb penalty, and he is zero from 10 starts at this level. However, he had hinted at some ability in a couple of runs prior winning and it could just be he’s a bit of a slow burner. He carries 9lb less at this grade and it’s worth noting that Joao Moreira, who would have had the pick of a few here, is a first time booking.

Dangers:

2 Casa Rochester has a had a light campaign after a setback late last year, but he has run with merit in defeat since dropping down to this level at his last two starts and a 2lb drop in the handicap sees him just below his winning mark from April 2025.

8 Firefoot has been campaigned mostly on the dirt this year, winning over this trip two back, however, he showed he was no spent force on turf when runner-up at Sha Tin at his most recent start, but Moreira jumps off to ride the selection.

9 Noble Pursuit hasn’t won since September 2024, although he was a good thing beaten here in February, but he continues to slide down the handicap and he should get a solid gallop, which suits his closing style.

Race 4: Class 4 Sweet Grange Handicap (1.00pm) (1 mile)

1 SKY DEEP goes from the top of the handicap on his first spin at Happy Valley, but he’s a big lump of a horse (1255lbs) that brings some decent Sha Tin form to the contest and although he’s a giant of a horse, he has plenty of natural pace, which is a handy tool to have on the tight turning layout of Happy Valley.

The selection recorded his sole success over 7 furlongs at Sha Tin last year, a race that has produced plenty of winners, but suffered a setback after that and wasn’t seen for over a year, He’s entitled to strip fitter for his three runs back, finishing runner-up in one of those, and whilst this is a decent Class 4, he’s been contesting stronger races at Sha Tin.    

Dangers:

8 Gorgeous Victory, who will be having his first spin at Happy Valley, is yet to open his account in eight goes but he looks a winner in wating having been runner-up over 7 furlongs as an odds-on favourite last time, and he does give the impression he’ll enjoy stepping up to the mile for the first time.  

4 Take Actionideally wants a strong gallop to aim at as he showed when winning from well off the pace over course and trip two back and whilst they won’t go ballistic here, there is a solid gallop on offer, and he should be charging late. 

2 Ivy League has been a tad below par this season, but all three local wins have been recorded from higher marks than his current assessment and he should strip fitter for two runs back after a layoff.

Race 5: Class 4 Star Shine Handicap (1.30pm) (6 furlongs)

1 PEJIBAYE arrives having been beaten a distance on the dirt last time, but the run is best forgotten as he contacted the front of the stalls as the start was being affected with his rider, Joao Moreira requesting his mount to be declared a non-runner, which was later denied. Things then went from bad to worse with the selection meeting trouble in the run before being planted wide for most of the contest.

He’d been in good shape prior that, with a win and three seconds, one of which was at his only try on this track which was from an outside draw. The Caspar Fownes 4yo has plenty of natural pace, the draw in 4, which is his first inside stall since winning at Sha Tin, is helpful, and with plenty of pace drawn high, he should end up with the gun run on the leader’s tail.     

Dangers:

3 Cloud Nine, who was runner-up over course and trip last time, is a pacey 7 start maiden that should open his account soon enough, but he once again has a high draw and there is speed underneath.

12 Winning Champion is yet to break his duck in 14-starts but he has been runner-up over this trip a couple of times and although others have better overall form, he should end up in a good spot tracking what is likely to be a solid gallop.

2 Beauty Thunder is one of several that likes to punch forward, and he’s probably better suited to 5 furlongs, however, he’s a consistent type that was runner-up at Sha Tin on the straight course last time, but he does have a high draw to contend with.

Race 6: Class 4 Super Oasis Handicap (2.00pm) (6 furlongs)

5 GIANT LEAP has been a bit in-and-out this season, but he bounced back to form last time when beaten a nose in second over course and trip and although he goes up 2lb for that, he’s still 7lb below his last winning mark, albeit that was April of last year.

The selection has gone winless this season, but he’s only recently dropped back into Class 4 company, and from his most recent three spins over course and trip he has run well in defeat twice with genuine excuses in the other when slow to break. He’s a four-time course and trip winner that is now 14lb below his mark from the start of the season.   

Dangers:

2 Healthy Healthy goes up 5lb having won over this trip at Sha Tin last time and although that was his first win since December 2024, he’s won from 6lb higher in the past and four of his six wins have come on this track.   

6 Gratifide showed nothing his first 4 starts but took a decent step forward when picking up the bronze over course and trip last time and is open to further improvement.

1 Armour War Eagle bombed at Sha Tin last time with no obvious excuse, but he’d been runner-up in three of his previous 5 starts and ventures to Happy Valley for the first time to contest what is a moderate affair.

Race 7: Class 3 Encountered Handicap (2.35pm) (1 mile)

10 SOMELOVEFROMABOVE was well held over course and trip last time when having just his second spin in a Class 3, and whilst he didn’t look the likely winner, he did meet a wall of horses in the straight and went to then line untested.

The selection drew high that night and was snagged back to near last and given his three wins over course and trip this season have come when he has sat in the first three, making all in one of those, it’s fair to say he wasn’t placed to best effect that night. He’s yet to win in this grade, but he’s only had the two tries, placing here two back, and from the inside draw he’s likely to be ridden far more prominently this time.   

Dangers:

11 Thriving Brother has been unplaced at Sha Tin his last two, but he did win from a similar mark earlier in the season and was runner-up over course and trip from the same mark he’s now on when last seen on this track in April.

1 Winning Dragon is a 9yo descending the handicap that should strip fitter for three runs back after a layoff and whilst he may not be as good as he was when placed at Group 2 level and fourth in a Group 1, he’s in calmer waters now.

3 A Americ Te Specso is a veteran that doesn’t win to often but he drops 2lb in the handicap which sees him 3lb below his winning mark here last December and as a stretch runner, whilst ideally, he’d like them to go like scalded cats, which is unlikely, he should get an honest gallop to aim at.

Race 8: Class 2 Lucky Patch Handicap (3.10pm) (6 furlongs)

3 CRIMSON FLASH has run with merit in defeat his last two at Group 3 level from his current mark of 100 having been runner-up over this trip at Sha Tin from a similar mark when last seen at this level in a race that had plenty of depth.

To be fair, he probably doesn’t have a lot of room to manoeuvre from this mark, but he does have a few things in his favour here. The selection, who was a comfortable winner over course and trip when last seen on this track, he’s had a few tough draws recently, but he should have the gun run from stall 3 this time. He tends to run his best races over 6 furlongs and when he can stalk a solid gallop, and that’s exactly what he should get here.  

Dangers:

4 Young Champion will need some luck as he’s likely to be in the second half of the field despite the low draw, but he arrives having run well in defeat when third at Sha Tin last time, he’ll have pace to aim at and he’s been placed his only two starts on this track in his 32-start career.

2 Bottomuptogether is probably more effective over 5 furlongs but he’s a quick horse that will most likely sit one or two and he should be in it for a long way from stall 1.

1 Lucky With You last win was over a year ago, but he’s come down 13lb in the handicap this season having contested Pattern company for most of it and whilst this is a highly competitive Class 2, he’ll find this a tad easier than a few of his recent assignments.

Race 9: Class 3 Sun Jewellery Handicap (3.50pm) (6 furlongs)

11 DANICAS CHOICE, who won a maiden at his second and final start in New Zealand, was heavily supported when opening his local account over course and trip last time and although he moves up in grade under a 6lb penalty for a narrow success, there was plenty to like about the win, and he’s open to further improvement.

The selection sustained a long run out wide from worse than midfield that night and was the only runner to make up any sort of leeway on the two leaders, who finished two and three. But despite working in the run with a far from ideal pace set-up, he still ran through the line with purpose and whilst he has more on his pate at this level, he carries 10lb less.    

Dangers:

2 Young Emperor, who won (known as Eclipse Emerald) a Naas maiden for Fozzy Stack, has been successful in two of his 14 starts in Hong Kong, goes up 1lb having been beaten half-a-length in third over course and trip last time when having his fist spin on the city track this year, and he has placed from slightly higher marks in the past.

1 Flying Wrote is an honest type that won over course and trip two back before an equally good effort when runner-up here last time, but he does go from the top of the handicap in what is a competitive Class 3.

10 King of Fighters, who was Listed placed in Australia, finally opened his account over 7 furlongs at Sha Tin last time when having start 21, but he did meet with a decent nibble in the market that day, and whilst he drops back in trip and moves up in grade under a 5lb penalty, he carries 12lb less at this level.  

WEDNESDAY’S PLACEPOT

The Placepot will be races 4 through to 9. All up we will be playing 81 combinations (1x1x3x3x3x3), which will cost £8.10 for a 10p stake and so on. Good luck.

LEG 1 - 1 SKY DEEP 

LEG 2 - 1 PEJIBAYE

LEG 3 - 2 HEALTHY HEALTHY 5 GIANT LEAP 6 GRATIFIDE

LEG 4 - 1 WINNING DRAGON 10 SOMELOVEFROMABOVE 11 THRIVING BROTHERS

LEG 5 - 2 BOTTOMSUPTOGETHER 3 CRIMSON FLASH 4 YOUNG CHAMPION

LEG 6 - 1 FLYING WROTE 2 YOUNG EMPEROR 11 DANICA’S CHOICE