Hong Kong tips: Jim McGrath with three fancies for Happy Valley on Wednesday

Fire Ball
1.45 Happy Valley
2pts win

Stormtrouper
2.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Mig Energy
3.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Normal service has resumed, with Zac Purton and Joao Moreira already first and second in the jockeys' championship and the strong possibility they will dominate Wednesday's eight-race card at Happy Valley.

After only three racedays, it is early doors, but the two great rivals have such a hold locally they can ride virtually any horse, and most trainers welcome their interest as evidence they have a potential winner in the stable.

Purton can look to the progressive Fire Ball as the best of his eight rides, in the Class 4 6f handicap sprint (1.45). The five-year-old is twice a course-and-distance winner and, from stall 4, he looks set to enjoy a perfect run in behind the leaders.

Trainer Dennis Yip let Fire Ball find his feet in a quiet first season, but cracked on with him last term, the gelding winning twice and finishing out of the first four only once in nine starts, surely an indication he is capable of scoring again in this grade.

Purton and Yip can make it a race-to-race double when they combine with another untapped type in Stormtrouper, a five-year-old who is ready to open his account in the Class 4 6f handicap sprint (2.15).

The son of Toronado showed steady improvement last season, with his latest run, a third over course and distance in July, being one of the best of his five starts, but the key pointer is his recent barrier trial on the Sha Tin dirt. His main danger is the capable Loriz.

Moreira also has a strong hand, teaming up with the Tony Cruz-trained Mig Energy, who can make the most of an attractive rating in the Class 3 6f sprint handicap (3.15). The gelding is now 8lb below his winning mark last November yet he races consistently well in this grade.

Among the dangers is the Douglas Whyte-trained Simply Fluke, who possesses a dazzling turn of foot and, if the pace is reasonable, expect him to come storming home for in-form apprentice Jerry Chau.

Moreira also has an excellent chance in the finale, the Class 2 6f sprint handicap (3.50), although his mount, the John Size-trained Sight Success, will need to use all his early speed to get across from a wide draw in what is a very strong heat.

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 12.15pm

Happy Valley Placepot perm

1.15
7 Alloy King
11 Xiang Lan Qi

1.45
1 Fire Ball
7 Happily Friends

2.15
5 Loriz
7 Stormtrouper

2.45
1 Magnificent
9 Fa Fa

3.15
1 Simply Fluke
6 Mig Energy

3.50
5 Golden Dash
12 Sight Success

2x2x2x2x2x2= 64 lines

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