Happy Valley Wednesday Preview - 03/03/21

Our first selection of the day comes in the Class 5 Handicap over a mile and Galaxy Racer For trainer Richard Gibson takes the eye for us.

The five year old gets the mount of Zac Purton who can do no wrong around this track and having finished a bold third over the same course and distance last time out, he is worth taking a chance on again off only 2lb higher.

The gelding bounced back to form in February only being beaten by a head on the line and this event looks a perfect opportunity for him to break his duck.

We hope we will have a Smiling Face in the second race as this four year old at the bottom of the weights looks to have a huge chance in this Class 4 Handicap over a mile.

The four year old for Douglas Whyte has bounced back to a decent level of form on both his runs this term, finishing fourth on both occasions.

In January he was close up over six furlongs at Happy Valley and then last month finished in a similar way looking like a step up in trip is what was needed.

He gets that today with an extra two furlongs and getting weight off the field should make him another solid frame chance.

The third selection of the day in Hong Kong comes in the six furlong handicap and the horse we are siding with is Mercurial.

The four year old although near the top of the weights gets 7lb taken off by the smart claimer Jerry Chau and will be looking to make it back to back wins over this course and distance.

Having been searching for form last year, on his sole run this term he got back to winning ways in fine style and although getting a penalty seems to have enough in hand to go close again.

The Class 4 Percival Handicap over 1m1f and Donc Je Suis for trainer David Hayes looks to have a huge chance off this mark.

The three year old will need to show more than he has in his career to date, but on his first two runs this year he finished fourth twice that hinted that he does have some ability.

Having shown promise over a mile the extra furlong should help him on Wednesday and also 1lb lower for his latest run could give him the encouragement he needs to go close.

Another six furlong handicap follows and it sees us go with three year old Hurry Hurry Gain who showed backs of ability on his sole start on a racecourse.

The gelding was first seen in February at Sha Tin and finished a superb second, showing clear pace over five furlongs that day.

Zac Purton takes the ride for the first time on this horse which is a positive and if improving for this extra furlong, then he is the leading challenger.

Coming towards the latter stages of the card and the sixth race of the day sees a Class 4 six furlong event and Ever Force looks the most likely winner.

The three year old could bring up a treble for Zac Purton and for us with the youngster being a progressive horse on is three runs to date.

Having finished sixth on debut last year, he then improved for that run to enter the frame into fourth over course and distance.

With two smart runs under his belt he finally got off the mark last time out and getting an inside draw again today makes him one to keep on side.

Royal Bomb takes the eye in the Canal Handicap over a mile with the Caspar Fownes trained gelding showing smart form this year.

The four year old has been see three times since the turn of the year and in January landed the first win of his career over seven furlongs at Sha Tin.

He backed that up next time out with an impressive second when stepping up to a mile and having gone up another 2lb had to settle for fourth last time out.

He is very lightly raced which could see him still improving and if thats the case, his mark of 77 is workable.

The penultimate race of the afternoon at Happy Valley is another decent Class 3 six furlong event for sprinters and we believe Inner Flame can take this out.

The Douglas Whyte trained five year old has been up and down this season but on his best runs can well and truly be in the mix against this field.

In his last five runs he has drawn three blanks, but then also gone on to place nicely in two events, including last time out when a good second over course and distance.

He is only up 1lb for that run and if backing it up should go close.

The final event of the nine race card sees a field of 12 race over a mile and the top weighted Savaquin looks to have too much class for the rest of these.

The John Size trained four year old has been superb on his last two runs landing back to back races over course and distance and with Zac Purton on board today for the hat-trick bid he will go close.

He is up 12lb since his first win back in January, but he seems to still be improving and on an upward curve.