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

Silver Spurs
12.40 Happy Valley
2pts win

Mission Strike
1.10 Happy Valley
2pts win

Sunny Da Best
1.45 Happy Valley
2pts win

Ryan Moore signs off his latest fleeting visit to Hong Kong with a full book of nine rides at Happy Valley and an excellent chance of landing the Kwoon Chung Bus 60th Anniversary Cup (1.45) aboard the sponsor’s Sunny Da Best. 

This is Moore’s third raceday on this stint and he looks to add to his two winners with some impressive ammunition. The Chris So-trained Sunny Da Best, set to be sent off hot favourite for the Class 3 6f handicap, is top of his list. 

Already 2-10 in a career in which he has been carefully placed by So, the four-year-old is now showing the benefit of being given time to work his way into the system. His two wins were in Class 4, but his first crack in this grade showed he is well up to the standard. 

Sunny Da Best finished a neck second to the smart Mid Winter Wind, a Group 3 winner in South Africa who won on his local debut and then ran creditably when fifth just behind the placed horses in a Class 2 handicap. 

That form is strong enough for this competitive sprint, in which the Irish import Francis Meynell has a reasonable draw (stall six) for the first time since his arrival and looks the danger. The Blue Point gelding was 2-3 for Michael O’Callaghan and has ability.  

Trainer Mark Newnham has been suffering from a bout of seconditis at recent meetings — including with My Wish in the Hong Kong Classic Cup — but the lightly raced Mission Strike might be the one to turn the tide in the Class 4 1m1f handicap (1.10). 

This three-year-old son of Australian Derby winner Dundeel enjoyed the step up in trip last time when running on strongly for third, finishing only three-quarters of a length behind the winner, and this is an ideal opportunity to open his account. Luke Ferraris is in the saddle again. 

The main threat is the Danny Shum-trained Hakka Radiance, still a maiden in Hong Kong but a winner for George Boughey at Chelmsford and fifth to Docklands in Royal Ascot’s Britannia two years ago. He has been running well recently without winning. 

The value bet on the nine-race card is the Caspar Fownes-trained Silver Spurs in the Class 4 6f handicap (12.40). His best recent run came three starts back when third to Sky Jewellery over course and distance after attempting to make all, tactics that are likely to be repeated here from gate three.

Happy Valley Placepot perm

12.10
4 Dragon Four Seas
12 Telecom Power

12.40
1 Golden Rise
11 Silver Spurs

1.10
5 Mission Strike
11 Hakka Radiance

1.45
3 Francis Meynell
4 Sunny Da Best

2.15
4 Happy Daily
8 Sky Vino

2.50
2 Eason
5 Spicy Gold

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 10.40am.

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