Hong Kong racing tips: Jim McGrath with three bets for Sha Tin's Sunday card

Solar Power
8.00 Sha Tin
2pts win

Courier Wonder
9.05 Sha Tin
2pts win

Looking Great
9.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

Trainer Frankie Lor, who is gaining a reputation for improving young talent sent to his stable, can notch a timely win with Looking Great in the Class 3 1m1f handicap (9.35) on a bumper 11-race card at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Lor continues to chip away behind the leaders as a great battle for this year’s trainers’ championship develops – John Size and Caspar Fownes are locked together on 54 wins at the top of the leader board – as his horses consistently hold their form.

Looking Great, who is out of a Montjeu mare, will appreciate the return to a trip that his pedigree suggests should be his optimum. The four-year-old gave a hint of this when second over course and distance two starts back.

Although he is 0-5 in Hong Kong, he was never out of the first two in five starts on Queensland tracks and clearly has ability, which Lor’s skill at developing should start to come through. In-form Beluga is also improving and looks next best.

There are two good things on the card, and although both are expected to be at prohibitive odds, they should oblige and can be confidently included in multiples on an otherwise tricky card.

Courier Wonder can continue skipping his way through the ranks by taking the Class 3 6f sprint handicap (9.05), in which a 12lb rise is unlikely to stop his breathtaking progress.

He has hacked up by wide margins on his two starts to date and this son of ill-fated New Zealand sire Sacred Falls is destined for the top in Size’s care. Trillion Win, who seemed to have something up his sleeve when beaten on his last start, is one for the forecast.

The David Hayes-trained Fantastic Treasure (10.10) should also go, although there will be better value to be found in the Class 4 7f handicap (8.00) by backing Solar Power, who is having his first start for Dennis Yip, with Karis Teetan his new jockey.

Solar Power, by Kingman, was knocked down for the equivalent of £400,000 at the Jockey Club’s International Sale, and after two barrier trials for his new trainer, he is ready to win.

Sha Tin card

Bet through the tote