Hong Kong racing tips: Jim McGrath with three selections at Happy Valley on Wednesday

Colourful King
1.40 Happy Valley
2pts win

Club Ace
2.10 Happy Valley
2pts win

Ocean Impact
2.45 Happy Valley
2pts win

Look no further than David Eustace and Andrea Atzeni, a trainer and jockey in sparkling form, to provide the best bet on a high-quality nine-race card at Happy Valley on Wednesday.

Eustace, who landed his first Hong Kong treble on Sunday, and Atzeni, now in third place in the jockeys’ championship, combine with Colourful King in the Hong Kong China Rugby Cup (1.40) over 5f.

Colourful King, an Australian three-year-old import by Blue Point, is seeking to follow up his nose success from Youthful Spirits over course and distance last month. He should again have the measure of that rival from an inside draw.

On Melbourne metro tracks, Colourful King had a respectable 2-5 record and has clearly acclimatised fairly quickly since his arrival.

Atzeni has ridden 12 winners at the last eight fixtures and his recent purple patch sees him third behind Zac Purton and Hugh Bowman in the title battle. He has other cracking rides at this meeting, including the John Size-trained Club Ace in the 6f handicap (2.10).

Club Ace is 0-5 but has shown glimpses of promise in recent runs, most notably two starts ago when third from a high draw over course and distance. He was beaten a length and it suggested he is not far away from from a first win.

Atzeni is the new rider for the Toronado four-year-old, while Bowman, who has been aboard him several times, has remained loyal to the David Hayes-trained Stellar Swift, who is drawn perfectly in stall two. Ace Power is next best in an interesting race.

The frustrating Jumbo Fortune is vying for favouritism in the mile handicap (2.45) but a better alternative may be the Douglas Whyte-trained Ocean Impact, who seeks to improve on his last-start second in a similar race last month.

The lightly raced four-year-old is to ridden again by triple Brisbane champion James Orman, making the most of limited opportunities on his current stint. Gallant Epoch also has claims in an open contest.

Happy Valley Placepot perm

1.10
2 Gameplayer Elite
3 Sovereign Fund

1.40
2 Youthful Spirits
4 Colourful King

2.10
1 Stellar Swift
6 Club Ace

2.45
5 Gallant Epoch
8 Ocean Impact

3.15
10 Flying Fortress
11 Good Luck Win

3.50
8 Golden Rise
12 Young Arrow

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote. The first race at Happy Valley on Wednesday is at 11.40am.

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