3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Wednesday's (28 April) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley.

Race 1: #3 Shanghai Grace, #9 Red Majesty, #1 Smart Cousin, #6 Apolar Warrior
Race 2: #2 Telecom Smart, #3 Noir Rider, #6 Universal Go Go, #11 The Elites
Race 3: #1 Clement Legend, #5 Dionysus Collin, #4 Kungfumaster Panda, #7 Donc Je Suis
Race 4: #11 Nitro Express, #3 Tailor Made, #5 President Star, #1 Manna From Heaven
Race 5: #1 Piano Solo, #9 Shadow Breaker, #3 Chater Pins, #5 King Dragon
Race 6: #6 Triple Triple, #1 Sparkling Dragon, #9 Mehboob, #2 Beauty Rush
Race 7: #5 Chikorita, #4 Xponential, #9 Sight Hero, #6 Star Of Wuyi
Race 8: #2 Tashidelek, #4 Farshad, #9 Bundle Of Delight, #11 Fast Pace
Race 9: #7 Nordic Wellstar, #4 Brilliant Fortune, #9 Falcon Turbo, #6 Eight Trigrams 

Race 1: Lyttelton Handicap (2nd Section) 

#3 Shanghai Grace has gone close on a number of occasions and with the right run here, he could finally go on with it. He just needs a little luck from the wide draw. #9 Red Majesty is on the steady improve. He clocked a close-up second last start and off that effort that looks primed for further improvement. #1 Smart Cousin steps down in grade. His last run in Class 5 resulted in a win and from gate three he rates to get every opportunity under Joao Moreira. #6 Apolar Warrior is next best. 

Race 2: Conduit Handicap (1st Section) 

#2 Telecom Smart turned in a career-best second last start. He lacks gate speed but with a clean run and further improvement, he can breakthrough. #3 Noir Rider should roll forward and find the front. He's much better suited in Class 4 and with a soft time out in the lead, he could test this bunch. He's worth supporting on an each way basis. #6 Universal Go Go is competitive in his spot and is a winner already in this grade. The booking of Joao Moreira commands respect. #11 The Elites caught the eye at the trials. He's open to further improvement. 

Race 3: Kotewall Handicap 

#1 Clement Legend is racing well and should appreciate the step back in grade. He draws well, stays the distance and rates as the one to beat. #5 Dionysus Collin is competitive in his spot. He draws well and has previously run very well over this course and distance. #4 Kungfumaster Panda is a two-time winner from his last three starts. He only needs to offset the wide draw to be competitive here. #7 Donc Je Suis bears close watching with the booking of Zac Purton. He's shown glimpses of ability and just might be ready to showcase his best over longer. 

Race 4: Lyttelton Handicap (1st Section) 

#11 Nitro Express looks well placed to go one better. He narrowly missed over this course and distance last start and the retention of Joao Moreira's services commands respect. #3 Tailor Made is still in need of a first win. Still, he is racing well and from the gate he is more than capable of going close once again. #5 President Star is in search of a hat-trick of wins. He gets his chance again. #1 Manna From Heaven sits on the cusp of a class-rise. He draws well and should be thereabouts. 

Race 5: Hatton Handicap 

#1 Piano Solo is better than his record suggests. He's shown glimpses of ability and with Zac Purton engaged he just might be ready to now put it all together. #9 Shadow Breaker should get the run of the race camped in behind Thunder Stomp and from there, he should be able to peel out and challenge for the win. #3 Chater Pins just needs the right run to get his chance. #5 King Dragon was a winner in this grade three starts ago. He can finish thereabouts. 

Race 6: Bonham Handicap 

#6 Triple Triple maps to get the gun run from gate four. He's racing well and is unlucky not to be the winner of more races this season. He rates as the one to beat. #1 Sparkling Dragon has a powerful finish on his day. He only needs luck to be competitive here. #9 Mehboob draws well and should be able to sit close to the speed without expending too much petrol. He's solid in this grade. #2 Beauty Rush can find the front. He could give them something to chase down here and the booking of Zac Purton holds him in good stead. 

Race 7: Conduit Handicap (2nd Section) 

#5 Chikorita was unlucky in the straight last time out. Had he received a clean run he could have a finished much closer and this time, from gate five, he maps to get that clean run. #4 Xponential is better than his last-start struggles suggest. Suspect he can settle closer from the draw this time around and get every chance. #9 Sight Hero was caught attempting to make all last time out. He'll roll forward and look the winner at some point. #6 Star Of Wuyi is on the up. He only needs to offset the wide gate. 

Race 8: Breezy Handicap 

#2 Tashidelek was caught wide and made to sustain a run two starts ago at Happy Valley, before switching to Sha Tin for a distant 10th last time out. He does his best racing at the city circuit and with a smooth run he's capable of getting back on the winners list. #4 Farshad is looking to notch a hat-trick of wins. He remains in this grade which is suitable and from the draw he should get a nice run. #9 Bundle Of Delight steps into Class 3. He slots in light and rates as a chance to go back-to-back. #11 Fast Pace is consistent in his spot. The inside draw helps him here. 

Race 9: Babington Handicap 

#7 Nordic Wellstar went close three starts ago. Since then he's mixed his form but with a fast pace and quiet ride, he can steam over the top of this bunch. #4 Brilliant Fortune has done nothing but impress across two starts, twice finishing runner-up. He should find the front and from there prove difficult to reel in. #9 Falcon Turbo mixes his form but is capable of bouncing out of the ground at any moment. #6 Eight Trigrams draws a touch awkward but won't be too far away.