Free betting tips for Sha Tin | The Hong Kong File

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Vincent hits 600 as IJC defence beckons

The star of HKIR week is never a bad time to hit form and three of the best did just that at Happy Valley on Wednesday.

Vincent Ho limbered up for the defence of his IJC crown by becoming only the eleventh rider in HK history to reach the 600-winner mark aboard Healthy Healthy.

Hugh Bowman put a frustrating November behind him with a double ahead of a bid to repeat his 2016 IJC success.

Andre Atzeni sealed his own double aboard revitalised Beauty Destiny, while Mark Newnham scored with Fatal Blow as it emerged that he welcomes an interesting new recruit shortly.

Newnham will be watching next week’s HK Mile with added interest as Ramadan – last seen landing the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein on Arc weekend – will switch stables after contesting Sunday’s Hong Kong Mile for Christopher Head.

And, to continue the French theme, star French rider Alexis Pouchin has jetted in for a winter stint that begins with five rides at Sha Tin on Sunday.

This would also be a handy time for yours truly to hit form but that won’t be easy on a ten-race card featuring six dirt puzzles and several tough turf handicaps.

Still, it’s always fun to stroll round Sha Tin as a cash punter and my plan to get HKIR week off to a flying start runs as follows:

11am (3.00 GMT):

Get to the track early to record a couple of clips for the thirsty crowd to enjoy at Monday’s HWPA Derby Awards bash.

1.30 (5.30am GMT):

Choose between Super Legends and Cheerful World.

This pair stand out in a winnable Class 4 and Cheerful World is nailed on to go close after showing plenty in three starts.

However, SUPER LEGENDS had been progressing well before suffering a tough trip last time. Stall 10 is tricky again but James McDonald will have a plan and early signs suggest he’ll jump at a bigger price than his main rival.

2.30 (6.30 GMT):

Risk a few dollars on SUNNY DARLING

Britney Wong’s 10lb claim makes the frustrating yet capable Mark The Moment an interesting saver option after a lengthy break but Sunny Darling impressed on his return to dirt in October, beating a fair field emphatically, and the speed he showed at the Valley last time suggests he’s still in fine fettle.

3.00 (7.00 GMT):

Ponder the price for Purton and KA YING VICTORY

The market was never going to miss that this is a thin Class 3.

Healthy Healthy is 7lb higher than when pouncing late in a fast-run race that saw him to maximum advantage in midweek, while Stellar Express has bags of ability but failed to fire last time.

Ka Ying Victory didn’t fire on his final start last term but his two previous wins and a couple of strong recent trials mark him out as the type who could take another step forward this season.

4.05 (8.05 GMT):

Hope for a Blizzard on the dirt

This Class 2 feature is unusual in that most of the players are unproven on Sha Tin’s AW surface under race conditions.

Capital Delight handles the dirt very well and is high on the short list but RAGING BLIZZARD might be the one.

John Size’s gelding thrived last spring and has has caught the eye without much luck at the Valley without much luck on both his starts this term. J-Mac takes the reins for the first time and Raging Blizzard’s AW trials suggest he might take to the surface nicely.

5.15 (9.15 GMT)

Fire up the Dragon

The Nathan Handicap features a rematch between the consistent Master Of All and the progressive Dragon Joy.

Master Of All refused to yield when they met over course and distance four weeks ago, battling on to score by a short head, but DRAGON JOY seemed to relish the step up to 1400m that day and a 4lb pull and a handy draw in gate 4 suggest he has a good deal in his favour under the Bowman here.

5.50 (9.50 GMT):

Wish for a better draw

The closing Salisbury Handicap looks a strong Class 3 and much depends on whether Newnham’s useful front runner My Wish can glide across and get on the lead from gate 14.

Luke Ferraris worked the oracle impressively from 14 on the diminutive (just 990lb) four-year-old last month and the runner-up polished the form by winning last Sunday’s finale.

But this is no gimme with Steps Ahead, Storm Rider, Geneva and Magnificent Nine in opposition and I suspect I’ll be playing cautiously – unless earlier plans have paid dividends!

Sunday’s Sha Tin Selections

5.30: Super Legends

6.30: Sunny Darling

7.00: Ka Ying Victory

8.05: Raging Blizzard (EW)

9.15: Dragon Joy

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