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

See U Again
1.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Island Surprise
2.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Packing Famous
2.45 Happy Valley
2pts win

Zac Purton looks set to continue his brilliant start to the new season with seven rides at Happy Valley, the best being the well-treated Island Surprise in the 6f handicap (2.15).

Purton heads the jockeys' list with seven wins from 27 mounts at a strike-rate of just over 25 per cent and he has the right ammunition to extend his advantage on a tricky card.

Island Surprise has not been placed in ten starts, yet he has showed ability in at least two of those runs and trainer Manfred Man has managed to get him down to the lowest grade.

With the first-time booking of Purton, who partnered the five-year-old to an impressive barrier trial victory two weeks ago, plus a 14lb descent on the ratings ladder, he looks ready to win.

Silvestre de Sousa is another who has made a bright start to the campaign — he is fourth in the table with three wins — and that he maintains his association with Smart Leader, who last won in May 2020 off a much higher mark, is worth noting. He is the main opposition.

Purton can also post a maiden win on the Danny Shum-trained See U Again in the 5f handicap (1.15), but unlike Island Surprise, he has been placed five times from nine outings and on his last start was beaten only a neck by Super Commander, who reopposes again.

From an inside draw in stall three, See U Again should enjoy a perfect run and finally break the ice, with the danger appearing to be the five-year-old gelding Pretty Queen Prawn.

Shum can also win the 1m½f handicap (2.45) with the talented Packing Famous, retaining the services of Matthew Poon, who was aboard last week when the gelding was beaten a half-length in a similar race.

Champion trainer Frankie Lor saddles the chief threat in My Ecstatic, who should be up in the leading group most of the way from gate one.

Hong Kong Placepot perm

1.15
4 See U Again
8 Pretty Queen Prawn

1.45
5 Owners' Star
9 Loyal Ambition

2.15
2 Smart Leader
6 Island Surprise

2.45
2 My Ecstatic
5 Packing Famous

3.15
7 Spontaneous
8 Super Mission

3.50
6 Durham Star
10 Cordyceps One

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

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