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

Dr Winning
12.40 Happy Valley
2pts win

California Cible
2.10 Happy Valley
2pts win

Zebrowski
2.50 Happy Valley
2pts win

Australian jockey Damian Lane has been drawn exceptionally well in the glittering Longines International Jockeys Championship at Happy Valley on Wednesday, with smart sprinter California Cible in the fourth leg, the Class 3 6f handicap (2.10), appearing the best of his rides.

Lane, who had a brief stint in Hong Kong in 2014-15, is familiar with the local demands and is well equipped to navigate a passage from stall nine to the inside rail on California Cible, who is very speedy.

The Australian import took four starts to score locally but he has been given a modest 7lb rise in the handicap and looks able to build on his last-start victory over course and distance.

Alexis Badel’s mount Resolute is a versatile type, capable in this grade on turf and dirt, and he has the gate speed to follow California Cible across from eight, while in-form James McDonald has place prospects on Ginson, who is well over the odds.

The 12 jockeys invited for this year’s IJC are a fine group of riders who would hold their own in any jurisdiction, and it is always fascinating to see what sort of tune they get out of some local horses, who may have stagnated.

All visitors welcome the opportunity to draw a horse trained by John Size, whose stable typically hits form around this time, and Lane finds himself landed with the plum mount on Size’s Dr Winning in the second leg of the championship, the Class 4 handicap (12.40), over an extended mile.

Dr Winning showed his appreciation of stepping up in trip when finishing well for third over course and distance on his most recent start and would have to make only natural improvement to go close. The only negative is his awkward draw in ten. Ryan Moore’s Ai One is the danger.

Lane is also tipped to combine successfully with Caspar Fownes in the finale, the Class 2 1m1f handicap (2.50), with solid middle-distance type Zebrowski, who has adapted well to local conditions and is in good form. Telecom Fighters is his main threat.

Tom Marquand is selected to take the first leg (12.10) with the David Hayes-trained Awesome Treasure, while McDonald has bright prospects in the third leg (1.40) on Invincible Missile for Fownes.

Happy Valley Placepot perm

12.10
8 Awesome Treasure
9 Charming Steed

12.40
4 Ai One
9 Dr Winning

1.10
2 Xponential
8 Spartan Missile

1.40
7 Invincible Missile
8 The Anomaly

2.10
4 Resolute
7 California Cible

2.50
2 Telecom Fighters
4 Zebrowski

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes. The first race at Happy Valley on Wednesday is at 10.30 am.

Happy Valley Wednesday card

Bet through the Tote

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