Hong Kong racing tips: three expert tips for Wednesday's Happy Valley card

Ardenode
11.45 Happy Valley
2pts win

Lewis
1.45 Happy Valley
2pts win

Here Comes Ted
2.50 Happy Valley
2pts win

Christophe Soumillon is ready to bounce back from a costly suspension with the speedy Ardenode, in the Class 5 sprint (11.45), clearly best of his seven fancied rides at Happy Valley on Wednesday.

A two-meeting ban just when he was gathering momentum came as a blow to Soumillon, but he is a jockey who unfailingly finds plenty under pressure, so expect an all-guns-blazing return.

The Chris So-trained Ardenode, twice a winner at Maisons-Laffitte early in his career, is still a Hong Kong maiden after 21 starts, which has seen him plummet to the bottom grade. But this is his chance for a breakthrough as his recent runs in stronger company have been creditable and comes here race-fit.

Soumillon also rides one of the hottest favourites on the card, Naboo Star in the Class 3 handicap (1.45), but there may be better value in following Zac Purton’s mount Lewis, who caught the eye with a fine second at Sha Tin on his last start.

Lewis won four races for Chris Waller in Sydney and has come to hand quickly since joining Douglas Whyte. He is a son of Fastnet Rock, out of a Sunday Silence mare, and has proven he sees out a strongly-run mile.

His second run in Hong Kong was full of promise and, from an inside draw in stall 3, Purton should have him handily placed throughout and he looks set to capitalise. Naboo Star must contend with an awkward outside draw (11) but is still the main danger.

Antoine Hamelin registered a 456,013-1 five-timer at the weekend, but he has only three rides on Wednesday, with the shortest being 7-1 in early markets. Such is the closed shop mentality in the ranks.

One horse who has really started to come into his own of late is Here Comes Ted, who gets in with a light weight in the Class 3 sprint handicap (2.50), which is an important step up in grade but one with which he can cope from an attractive inside draw (stall 2). It gives him an edge over chief rival Kinda Cool.

Wind N Grass is another to consider in combinations, as he will be running home strongly at the finish.

Happy Valley Wednesday card

Bet through the Tote

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes. The first race at Happy Valley on Wednesday is at 10.45am

Tote Placepot

Race 4 (1st leg): 3 Ambitious Heart, 5 A Smile Like Yours
Race 5 (2nd leg): 2 Glorious Lover, 5 More Than Enough
Race 6 (3rd leg): 3 Oriental Amigo, 7 Stock Legend
Race 7 (4th leg): 1 Lewis, 3 Naboo Star
Race 8 (5th leg): 3 Scores Of Fun, 9 Ares
Race 9 (6th leg): 4 Kinda Cool, 11 Here Comes Ted

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