Hong Kong racing tips: Jim McGrath with three tips and the Placepot at Sha Tin

Fast Buck
7.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

We Are Hero
8.05 Sha Tin
2pts win

Voyage Bubble
8.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

Hugh Bowman is back aboard the well-placed We Are Hero, who looks set to make up for an unlucky defeat last time when lining up in the Class 3 5f handicap (8.05) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The five-year-old looked certain to win a similar race two weeks ago but was persistently denied a clear run inside the final furlong before crossing the line in fourth, hard held by Silvestre de Sousa and only three-quarters of a length behind Metro Warrior.

Normally, being drawn in stall 13 on the straight course is an advantage, but on that occasion he struck heavy traffic. The only consolation is that he meets the winner, who again looks the danger, on 3lb better terms.

Bowman was in the saddle when We Are Hero blitzed his rivals by four and a half lengths over course and distance in November, which inevitably resulted in a stiff 12lb rise, but as his last effort indicated, he is still ahead of the handicapper.

Trainer Manfred Man, who is still finalising a plan for his budding champion Lucky Sweynesse, recruited We Are Hero from provincial tracks in Australia, where he won on heavy ground and the synthetic, so he is clearly versatile as well as talented.

Zac Purton has his usual collection of choice mounts, the best being the John Size-trained Fast Buck in the Class 4 7f handicap (7.35).

The gelding’s second in a restricted race last time out may turn out to be better form than it appears on paper as he was beaten by Forerunner, a son of Almanzor who is ear-marked for the four-year-old Classic series.

The fact that Fast Buck was beaten only a length and a quarter was creditable when put into perspective.

The jockey-trainer combination of Derek Leung and Ricky Yiu have a decent chance with the consistent Voyage Bubble, who steps up to a mile for the first time in the Class 3 handicap (8.35).

The four-year-old son of Deep Field has a 2-7 career record and finished a narrow second on his last outing when partnered by Joao Moreira.

There is further improvement to come, though he can expect solid opposition from Hava Nageela and Capital Legend.