3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Wednesday’s (14 April) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley.

Race 1: #1 Good Days, #4 Brave Power, #9 Well Dragon, #10 Socket Elite
Race 2: #10 Happy Hour, #2 Baby Storm, #6 Fairy Floss, #9 Sky Gem
Race 3: #1 Spontaneous, #3 Good Shot, #2 Colonel, #8 Moonluck
Race 4: #7 Inno Legend, #2 Shining On, #1 Harrier Jet, #8 Showina
Race 5: #9 Winning Steed, #6 Bulletproof, #5 Cheerful Days, #4 Regency Master
Race 6: #8 Transcendent, #4 Stock Legend, #10 Jazz Steed, #9 Island Shine
Race 7: #2 Young Legend, #3 Joyful Union, #1 Stanley Park, #7 High Rise Soldier
Race 8: #11 Fast Pace, #8 Smoothies, #9 Right Honourable, #7 Chevalier Prince
Race 9: #8 Righteous Doctrine, #7 Charity Fun, #1 Reliable Team, #10 Tsar

Race 1: Walnut Handicap (2nd Section)

#1 Good Days draws well and is favoured by the booking of Zac Purton. He hasn't won for a while but is racing well and with even luck he is more than capable of going on with it here. #4 Brave Power mixes his form but has shown ability early on. He gets his opportunity stepping up in trip. #9 Well Dragon is closing in on a first win. He only needs to offset the awkward gate to be competitive. #10 Socket Elite is next best. He just needs the right run as he has proven a number of times that he has ability over these distances.

Race 2: Walnut Handicap (1st Section)

Zac Purton and Dennis Yip are a lethal combination and their good fortune together can continue here with #10 Happy Hour. He draws well, gets his chance and is favoured by the step up in trip. #2 Baby Storm is a one-time winner this campaign. He closed off nicely three starts ago and if he can recapture that form here, then he is the main danger. #6 Fairy Floss has elevated his racing to a new level with two wins from his last three starts. He commands respect. #9 Sky Gem is next best.

Race 3: Larch Handicap (2nd Section)

#1 Spontaneous is looking for back-to-back wins. Expect he rolls forward and proves difficult to reel in. #3 Good Shot closed for second behind him last start. Suspect these two can finish one-two again. #2 Colonel has a bit of class about him. He draws well and is likely to get his chance close to the speed. #8 Moonluck is on the improve. He's worth including.

Race 4: Larch Handicap (1st Section)

#7 Inno Legend has raced with plenty of merit all term and he deserves to finally break through. He gets the draw and rates strongly off the back of his fast-closing second-placed effort last start. Alexis Badel and Manfred Man combined on Sunday and the pair can do it again this week. #2 Shining On is consistent in his spot. He's a three-time winner already this season and given the right run, he can figure once again. #1 Harrier Jet is a steady old performer. He gets his chance back in Class 4 with Zac Purton engaged. This is key to his chances. #8 Showina draws awkwardly but can close off for prize money.

Race 5: Spruce Handicap

#9 Winning Steed mixes his form but is closing in on a first win. He clearly has ability and from the good gate he can settle close to the speed and get every opportunity. #6 Bulletproof is looking for back-to-back wins. He commands respect. #5 Cheerful Days clearly has a stack of ability but he is struggling to get over the line in first. Still, Joao Moreira sticks aboard and a change of scenery to the city circuit just might be what he is after. #4 Regency Master is next best.

Race 6: Cypress Handicap (2nd Section)

#8 Transcendent makes his city circuit debut. He's been racing well this campaign and his trial prior to his last-start fifth was very solid. Suspect with no weight on his back that he's a chance to roll forward and from there, prove difficult to catch. #4 Stock Legend is a talent on the rise. Joao Moreira has two wins aboard the gelding and with every chance, he rates as the main danger. #10 Jazz Steed slots in light and he should be able to figure. #9 Island Shine draws well. He's next best.

Race 7: Cypress Handicap (1st Section)

Zac Purton has a formidable record aboard #2 Young Legend and from gate one, the champion jockey gets every chance to enhance his strike rate aboard the gelding. Suspect he looks ready to peak and go on with it. #3 Joyful Union narrowly missed last start. He's capable of going one better and gate two only enhances his claims. #1 Stanley Park can roll forward and play catch me if you can. He's a speedy on-pacer who will look the winner at one stage. #7 High Rise Soldier mixes his form but has ability. Suspect he's getting close to piecing it all together.   

Race 8: Fountain Palm Handicap

#11 Fast Pace gets the services of Zac Purton. As long as he can offset the awkward gate, he is the one to beat, especially with a light weight on his back. He needs a strong rider and Purton is exactly that. #8 Smoothies can roll forward from gate five. He's the likely leader and he'll look the winner at some stage. #9 Right Honourable is racing in career-best form. He's shooting for a hat-trick of wins which isn't farfetched. #7 Chevalier Prince steps out for the in-form Frankie Lor who on Sunday, nailed a three-timer. He's in the right barn and is paired with championship leading jockey Joao Moreira.

Race 9: Cedar Handicap

#8 Righteous Doctrine draws well and is a winner in this grade and over this trip. He's performed well at the city circuit before and from the good gate, with the right run, he is capable of winning a contest like this. #7 Charity Fun was imperious when winning in the grade below last month. Suspect he's capable of making the step up in grade but still, he is very lightly raced and this contest does appear to be a difficult one. #1 Reliable Team led and won well last start. The awkward gate makes life difficult but from a positive position he can figure. #10 Tsar draws well and is capable of bouncing to his best. Don't discount.