Beat The Clock can ring in the new year in style in Sha Tin showpiece

Circuit Hassler
Sha Tin 8.35
1pt win

Beat The Clock
Sha Tin 9.10
2pts win

Spicy Sure
Sha Tin 9.45
0.5pts each-way

It's hard not to look at Sha Tin's first card of 2018 without thinking there is a certain element of 'out with the old and in with the new'.

Group 1 winners Helene Paragon and Beauty Only represent the old guard in the feature Chinese Challenge Cup (9.10) but the fact that this Group 3 contest is a handicap means the proven stars have to give upwards of a stone to three of the most progressive young horses in Hong Kong.

Southern Legend and Fifty Fifty are both thriving but the pick of the trio is John Size's Beat The Clock, who made good strides last season and took a major step forward on his reappearance over 1200m [6f] when producing a striking burst to make useful handicappers look like third-raters.

True, his rapid final 400m split of 21.59 was helped by undemanding early fractions, but Beat The Clock quickened like a good horse and at 2-1 or better he looks a sound bet to take a 9lb hike and a slightly longer trip in his powerful stride under Joao Moreira.

Moreira climbs aboard a member of Hong Kong's new guard who is familiar to British punters when one-time William Haggas-trained Lockheed makes his second Hong Kong appearance in the finale at 9.45.

The former German Guineas runner-up faces another highly touted import in the Queensland Derby hero Ruthven (who surely needs further than 1400m to produce a peak performance), but in this instance it could be unwise to ignore the older brigade.

Step forward Spicy Sure, who dropped a long way in the weights before joining rookie trainer sensation Frankie Lor but won a strongly-run handicap here last time in a style which suggests he can make his mark again despite a 7lb hike.

The new wave theme reappears when Super Missile bids to build on a promising debut at short odds in the 7.00, while handsome young light heavyweight Conte is another odds-on chance who looks poised to strike in the 8.05.

California Fortune is one to note at longer odds in the 7.35, but the third and final recommendation of the day is Circuit Hassler in the 8.35.

This gelding has been highly reliable and a shade unlucky of late. He's fairly treated despite top weight and the presence of Moreira for the first time might just provide the extra spark needed to get him over the line in front.

Don't forget: Members receive Pricewise Extra at 10am daily on racingpost.com