Hong Kong tips: JA McGrath with three bets for Happy Valley's Wednesday card

Telecom Smart
2.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Delightful Laos
3.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Majestic Star
3.50 Happy Valley
2pts win

The first-time booking of Alexis Badel for Delightful Laos in Wednesday's Fort Handicap (3.15) at Happy Valley is a partnership made in heaven and should reap immediate rewards.

Badel, fourth on the jockeys’ list and enjoying a cracking season, seems the right man for the job of dropping Delightful Laos out early in this 1m½f contest and then coming late on the noted swooper.

French jockeys are well suited to sit-and-sprint racing, and Delightful Laos has shown his liking for that style, registering three course-and-distance wins from his 13 Hong Kong starts, always coming from the rear.

Interestingly, Tony Cruz is bringing the four-year-old back in trip again after he finished ninth in the 1m4f Queen Mother Memorial Cup, having previously posted an excellent fifth to Sky Darci in the 1m2f Hong Kong Derby.

The dramatic reduction in distance should not trouble him unduly and he is selected to have the edge on improving Savaquin and likely favourite Green Luck, Joao Moreira’s mount.

Moreira, sitting pretty 20 wins clear of Zac Purton in the jockeys’ championship, has a full book of nine rides, the best of which is Majestic Star in the 6f sprint handicap (3.50).

Majestic Star, who won twice as a two-year-old in Melbourne, has acclimatised quickly and recorded an authoritative course-and-distance win on his last start. A 7lb rise in the ratings should not halt his progress, with Sky Show appearing his biggest rival in a competitive heat.

Telecom Smart is another progressive type and he can open his account locally in the 6f sprint handicap (2.15) after dropping to a handy mark. The Australian import may have been overrated by the handicapper, but he has ability and has found his level.

It is noteworthy that David Hayes has booked Moreira for Casa Kingdom following four unplaced runs from the three-year-old, albeit the most recent being a strong-finishing fifth in a similar race.

Happy Valley card

Bet through the tote

Tote Placepot

Race 4 (1st leg, 1.15): 8 Moonluck, 9 Sea Elite
Race 5 (2nd leg, 1.45): 1 Piano Solo, 2 Fa Fa
Race 6 (3rd leg, 2.15): 3 Telecom Smart, 10 Casa Kingdom
Race 7 (4th leg, 2.45): 3 Dancing Fighter, 8 Cantstopthefeeling
Race 8 (5th leg, 3.15): 1 Delightful Laos, 4 Savaquin
Race 9 (6th leg, 3.50): 4 Majestic Star, 10 Sky Show

Bets can be placed into HK pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes. The first race at Happy Valley on Wednesday is at 11.45am.