Hong Kong racing tips: Jim McGrath with three selections at Happy Valley on Wednesday

Ninja Derby
12.10 Happy Valley
2pts win

Lunar Dash 
1.45 Happy Valley
2pts win

Wrote A New Page 
2.50 Happy Valley
2pts win

Mark Newnham aims to increase his lead in the trainers’ championship with seven runners, headed by the improving Lunar Dash in division two of the Class 4 6f handicap (1.45) at Happy Valley.

Newnham is painstaking in his efforts to gain an advantage over his rivals, so it is relevant that he has fitted cheekpieces for the first time to the four-year-old, who seeks to go one better than when second to Run Run Smart in a similar race last month.

Lunar Dash was crowded near the 5f marker when the field was racing very tight and he did well to hold his own, but Newnham feels the headgear may help give him more confidence. He has won on one of his four starts and while his talent is obvious, he lacks experience.

Francis Lui will saddle the danger, Super Universal, a New Zealand import, who is 0-6 but responsible for several cracking runs this season and appearing close to breaking the ice. His regular rider Vincent Ho sticks by him here.

Newnham has sent out 23 winners to establish a four-win buffer over his nearest rival David Hayes (19), with Caspar Fownes (18) and Danny Shum (18) snapping at their heels. The best value among Hayes’s six runners is the untapped Turin Champions (12.40) in another Class 4 6f sprint.

James McDonald and Danny Shum, the Romantic Warrior combination, can get the promising stayer Wrote A New Page back in the winner’s berth in the Class 3 1m 1f handicap (2.50), in which the gelding should get every chance from stall five.

Last time out, a hefty bump from rival Sky Vino shortly after the start put him off his game, and although he ran on well for sixth (beaten half a length), he never looked likely to overhaul the winner Awesome Fluke. This better draw will help his chances.

David Eustace, who is gaining momentum after a slow start and now has eight wins on the board, will give his followers a good sight with Charity Gain, who was withdrawn from an intended engagement three weeks ago when he got rid of Lyle Hewitson on the way to the start.

Earlier on the card, Hewitson will be out to atone on Ninja Derby in the Class 5 1m1f handicap (12.10), having looked very unlucky when beaten into third last time after enduring a nightmare run throughout. He is selected to beat Storm Runner.

Happy Valley Placepot perm

12.10
2 Storm Runner
6 Ninja Derby 

12.40
2 Perfect General
3 Turin Champions

1.10
2 Silver Spurs
8 Genius Baby

1.45
1 Lunar Dash
8 Super Universal

2.15
2 Eternal Fortune
4 Love Together

2.50
4 Wrote A New Page
7 Charity Gain

2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote. The first race at Happy Valley on Wednesday is at 11.10am. 

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