Hong Kong racing tips: Jim McGrath has three fancies at Happy Valley

Dragon Pride
11.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Gallant Waking
12.45 Happy Valley
2pts win

Lucky Sweynesse
2.50 Happy Valley
2pts win

Joao Moreira starts his fight back in the championship at Happy Valley with nine cracking rides, headed by brilliant recent winner Lucky Sweynesse, who will be hard to beat in the finale, the Class 3 6f sprint handicap (2.50).

Moreira's six-meeting suspension proved costly, allowing Zac Purton to come from 18 wins behind to take over at the top, and with the magic man drawing a blank on his first day back (Sunday) and his great rival notching a double, the Australian now leads 77-74.

Lucky Sweynesse was impressive on his racecourse debut, hacking up for Purton by an easy two and a half lengths last month, and despite a 9lb rise in the handicap and a promotion, he will still be hard to run down with his featherweight of 8st 3lb.

The only criticism that could be levelled at the three-year-old last time was he was slow to muster early speed, but that could be put down to inexperience. He should be more streetwise this time, and with Moreira in the saddle and a good draw (5), he is an obvious selection.

Purton, currently at the top of his game, is aboard Toronado Phantom, who he partnered to victory last time. The four-year-old is the chief danger to Lucky Sweynesse in an intriguing night cap on this attractive midweek card.

Moreira has other winning chances such as Super Hong Kong (12.15), Happy Jai Jai (1.45) and A Smile Like Yours (2.15), while Purton's best is arguably the rapid improver Dragon Pride in the Class 5 handicap (11.15) over 1m½f.

Trainer Benno Yung picked up a well-handicapped horse when the five-year-old transferred to his stable after drawing a blank during stints with Tony Millard and David Hayes, which saw his rating drop 30lb over two seasons. He is still on the improve and is selected to beat the Richard Gibson-trained All You Know.

Gallant Waking looked a promising type when winning over course and distance first time out for the Golden Sixty combination of Francis Lui and Vincent Ho, and a 7lb rise is unlikely to halt his progress when he tackles the Class 4 6f sprint handicap (12.45).

Both Blake Shinn's mount Stormtrouper, a well-drawn course-and-distance winner, and the Jimmy Ting-trained Blissful Star (Purton) have solid claims in a tough race.

Tote Placepot

12.15
5 Lucky Diamond
6 Super Hong Kong

12.45
2 Gallant Waking
3 Stormtrouper

1.15
2 Regency Star
3 Lucky Archangel

1.45
1 Ever Laugh
12 Happy Jai Jai

2.15
4 High Rise Soldier
7 A Smile Like Yours

2.50
2 Toronado Phantom
12 Lucky Sweynesse

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Sha Tin pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes. The first race at Happy Valley on Sunday is at 12.15.

Happy Valley card on Wednesday

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