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

Excellence Value
1.40 Happy Valley
2pts win

Honest Witness
2.10 Happy Valley
2pts win

The Perfect Match
2.45 Happy Valley
2pts win

Zac Purton and David Hayes, the Ka Ying Rising team, combine forces to produce the day’s ‘good thing’ Honest Witness, who looks a stand-out in the Class 4 6f handicap sprint (2.10) on the eight-race card at Happy Valley. 

The colours of black with green cross belts revives memories of the da Silva family’s champion Silent Witness, who put together a sequence of 17 wins more then 20 years ago and was acclaimed the best sprinter Hong Kong had seen at that time.

Honest Witness is never going to be in that league, but he is useful, as he showed in five races last season when consistently running well without winning, all the while giving the impression that as a four-year-old he could make his mark.

His best run was his most recent, when he battled on for a short-head second to Tactical Command over course and distance back in July. He was in the firing line all the way but could not hold off the winner’s late challenge.  

Hayes has been showing intent early doors, working and trialling his horses to have them well forward. Honest Witness won a barrier trial on the Sha Tin dirt two weeks ago, racing under a tight hold until let go by Purton a furlong out and showing his wellbeing.

His danger here is the Michael Chang-trained New Power, another who runs consistently well, having only once been out of the first three in his last six outings. He has trialled competently and the stable is in form.

Purton has the usual collection of good rides, and the Mark Newnham-trained Excellence Value is one well deserving of another win, having collected over course and distance in March. He is the one to beat in the Community Chest Cup (1.40), a Class 3 handicap over 1m½f.

He is a hardy campaigner, having won two of 14 starts for James Cummings and Godolphin after running in the earliest two-year-old races. His soundness is clearly an asset. He has the Hayes-trained Star Contact as his danger.

Hugh Bowman and Danny Shum can also grab their share of success with The Perfect Match, who looks ideally placed in the Class 4 6f sprint handicap (2.45). Vulcanus, another prominent in the trials, is next best.

Happy Valley Placepot perm

1.10
5 Kingly Demeanor
9 Firefoot

1.40
3 Star Contact
5 Excellence Value

2.10
3 New Power
4 Honest Witness

2.45
3 The Perfect Match
6 Vulcanus

3.15
1 Superb Capitalist
4 La Forza

3.50
6 Soleil Fighter
7 Steps Ahead

2x2x2x2x2x2=64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote. The first race at Happy Valley on Wednesday is at 12.10pm.

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