Hong Kong racing tips: Jim McGrath with three selections at Sha Tin on Sunday

New Forest
9.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

Mid Winter Wind
10.10 Sha Tin
2pts win

Storm Rider
10.45 Sha Tin
2pts win

Trainer Mark Newnham has hit his stride and can continue in the winning vein when he saddles several good chances, headed by New Forest in the mile handicap (9.35) on the ten-race card at Sha Tin.

Newnham was hoping to be out of the blocks smartly, having primed his horses for early targets, but heavy rain on the first day affected those plans and he had to wait until the third meeting to open his account, which he did with a juicy-priced double.

It’s a tricky card on Sunday, with two races on dirt plus several handicaps in which second-season horses, who have done little since arrival, should be starting to make their mark. Betting moves should be followed with interest.

We know that New Forest will be at or near the top of the market following two excellent runs on dirt last season, which comes as no surprise from a son of the US Triple Crown winner Justify.

Lyle Hewitson rode a brilliant race when he bounced the five-year-old away from stall 14 and crossed the field to make all for a decisive win over course and distance in May. On his next start in a higher grade, he had competition for the lead from the winner Ariel and ended up finishing third under Harry Bentley.

Back fresh from a break, New Forest again starts from a wide draw (stall 11 of 12) and is reunited with Hewitson, and once more must contend with Ariel, drawn in stall 10 on his immediate inside. With apprentice Britney Wong on Ariel, tactics will come into play.

South African import Mid Winter Wind was a spectacular winner on his first start for Newnham in January but failed to replicate the effort in five subsequent runs. Even so, now he’s acclimatised, he can go close first-up in the 6f handicap (10.10).

The five-year-old won four races, including a Group 3, at Turffontein and Greyville, and goes well fresh. The progressive Dancing Code looks his chief danger, with next best, Gorgeous Win, an eye-catching fourth to Ka Ying Rising on the opening day.

David Hayes and Zac Purton join forces with the improving Storm Rider, who will be hard to beat in the concluding 6f handicap (10.45), in which Lo Pan Spirit and Lucky My Way have solid claims. All three have trialled well and are ready.

Sha Tin Placepot perm

8.00
5 Happy Universe
6 Mission Strike

8.35
5 Tin Fook
10 Thousand Spirit

9.05
4 Beauty Glory
7 The Heir I

9.35
3 Ariel
9 New Forest

10.10
3 Dancing Code
10 Mid Winter Wind

10.45
1 Storm Rider
6 Lo Pan Spirit

2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64 lines

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote. The first race at Sha Tin on Sunday is at 6am

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