Hong Kong Racing Tips: Rev can ensure Purton’s night ends on a High
HAPPY Valley hosts its regular midweek slot in Hong Kong this afternoon and racing enthusiasts can look forward to another exciting eight-race card, with tough and competitive handicaps the order of the day.
It hasn’t been easy for favourite-backers in Hong Kong this season. After ten meetings of the 2019/20 campaign, only 28% of the market leaders have obliged.
It doesn’t read any better for the big players who support odds-on chances either. There have been 17 horses who have been sent off at 10-11 or worse and only six have won.
Last Saturday at Sha Tin for instance, four horses, three ridden by Zac Purton and one by Joao Moreira, were sent off heavily odds-on favourites and all of them were beaten.
It hasn’t been all doom and gloom for the betting public however. Their idols, Moreira, Purton and Karis Teetan, have all started the season in sparkling form.
An astonishing statistic reveals the trio have won 52 of the 96 races so far, while the 20 other jockeys in the weighing room have managed just 44 winners between them.
All three are in action at the Valley this afternoon and with their mounts guaranteed to be popular, it’s a matter of finding which of their horses will offer the best value.
‘Magic Man’ Moreira is riding at the top of his game at the moment and at Sha Tin over the weekend, he once again sent his army of supporters home happy by riding a five-timer.
The Brazilian-born jockey has his card marked in half-a-dozen races this afternoon and his best chance of a winner could prove to be XIANG BAI QI, who lines up in the American Club Challenge Cup (2.15pm).
The successful combination of John Moore and Purton are represented by Tashidelek who is sure to be one of the market leaders, judged on his seasonal reappearance when catching the eye over an inadequate trip of seven furlongs at Sha Tin recently.
He has however disappointed twice when going off an odds-on favourite and could be vulnerable again here.
On one of those occasions, over the track and trip in July, he held every chance before being overtaken by the highly progressive True Grit and rival Xiang Bai Qi in the closing stages.
Moreira’s mount is now better off at the revised weights and having produced an encouraging run over the extended mile recently, should be in peak form this time around.
This is not just a two-horse race though, with the likes of well-handicapped Heavenly Thought and the Teetan-ridden Tangmere all adding extra spice to the contest.
Purton, who produced a masterclass at the Valley last week with a winning double, will probably be happy to provide a similar scenario.
He climbs aboard short-priced favourite Best Smile in the Plover Cove Handicap (12.45pm), but it could pay to wait until he renews his association with HIGH REV in the finale, the High Island Handicap (3.50pm) over the extended mile.
The last time these two combined they scooted clear to win by seven lengths over course and distance in July.
Despite being given a 13lb rise for that win, bettors fancied him to go in again on his seasonal reappearance over an inadequate six furlongs.
He finished strongly that day and now back over his optimum distance, he is going to be hard to beat.
POINTERS
Xiang Bai Qi 2.15pm Happy Valley
High Rev 3.50pm Happy Valley