Hong Kong racing tips: pool betting expertise on the Happy Valley action

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) hands out a Most Improved Horse award as part of its end-of-season celebrations. It is given to the horse who has achieved the biggest increase in handicap rating.

It has been won by top-level scorers Silent Witness, Armada, Sight Winner, Ambitious Dragon, Glorious Days, Contentment and Ivictory.

There is still a big leap between a Class 2 and a Group 1 but the final race at Happy Valley on Wednesday (3.50) could go a long way to determining which horse receives the accolade this year.

The Jimmy Ting-trained Amazing Star is currently leading the way, having won four of his five starts this season, all over 6f at Happy Valley, and his rating has risen from 57 to 100. Victory here would therefore put him into Group-race territory.

He's always been talented but is finally putting the pieces together this season, utilising his blistering speed on numerous occasions.

He could potentially be challenged by the Francis Lui-trained This Is Class, who has won three of his four starts this term and risen 23lb in the weights. He looks capable of taking advantage in the second half of the season when races tend to thin out a little bit and he could get up to triple figures without much effort.

However, in this competitive Class 2, it is worth banking on Amazing Star in the Placepot to take his rating beyond 100 with a win.

The five-year-old looks to be among a number of strong rides for Zac Purton, who has proven his dominance at the track this season. He is tied with Joao Moreira in the jockeys’ championship but has clearly been the superior Valley rider this year with 50 wins to Moreira’s 31.

It looks smart to include all of Purton's rides in the Placepot with some additional flourishes here and there.

TOTE PLACEPOT

Race 4 (leg 1): 3, 4
Race 5 (leg 2): 1
Race 6 (leg 3): 4, 5
Race 7 (leg 4): 1, 6
Race 8 (leg 5): 1, 2
Race 9 (leg 6): 1

Happy Valley card

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