Jim McGrath with three selections for Happy Valley on Thursday

Jolly Good Heart
1.45 Happy Valley
2pts win

Star Of Wuyi
2.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Helene Wisdom Star
3.50 Happy Valley
2pts win

Zac Purton is set to continue an amazing fightback to defend his jockeys’ title with a full book of nine rides as racing returns to Happy Valley. He could realistically ride a four-timer.

Six weeks ago, Purton trailed rival Joao Moreira by 31 victories in their ongoing battle for the championship and many were declaring the contest as good as over. But not the Australian.

Riding with all his old flair, Purton went into overdrive, chalking up a succession of wins to cut the deficit to 17, and he comes into this midweek meeting with an excellent book of mounts, headed by Jolly Good Heart, who is selected to take division one of the 6f Class 4 handicap (1.45).

Jolly Good Heart, who won his maiden on the provincial circuit in Australia, is 0-8 in Hong Kong but is now perfectly placed to open his account. He notched two course-and-distance seconds for Purton before finding 5f too sharp last time.

Another likely Purton winner is the well-regarded Star Of Wuyi, a A$1m purchase from the Sydney sales ring in 2018 who gets his chance for a first win when lining up in division two of the 6f Class 4 handicap (2.15).

Normally stall ten from this start would automatically rule him out, but such is the study Purton puts into his speed maps that you know the jockey will be well-equipped to handle any situation. Moreira’s mount Peak To Peak is the logical danger.

Star Of Wuyi was resold at the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s international sale, going under the hammer for the equivalent of £750,000, and while he has some way to go to recover that outlay, his four starts to date have been promising and he can be followed with confidence.

Purton can end the meeting on a winning note when partnering the capable Helene Wisdom Star in the Class 3 Handicap (3.50) over 1m½f, in which Romantic Combo is one to include for value in combinations.

Helene Wisdom Star was two-from-two over a mile at Dundalk for Henry de Bromhead, and Tony Cruz has him peaking after seven runs locally. With luck from stall seven, he can sit mid-division before starting his run on the home bend.

Happy Valley Thursday 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 Thursday is at 11.45am

TOTE PLACEPOT

Race 4 (1st leg): 3 Larson, 6 Nordic Wellstar
Race 5 (2nd leg): 1 Jolly Good Heart, 6 Sea Elite
Race 6 (3rd leg): 4 Peak To Peak, 8 Star Of Wuyi
Race 7 (4th leg): 1 Glorious Lover, 4 King Dragon
Race 8 (5th leg): 1 Kinda Cool, 8 Wine And Wine
Race 9 (6th leg): 5 Helene Wisdom Star, 11 Romantic Combo

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