Hong Kong Preview & Best Bets – 01/01/2024

Hong Kong Tips for Monday, January 1

Our form expert provides Hong Kong tips for today’s horse racing at Sha Tin Racecourse and gives his best bets.

BEST BET 🏆

Race 8:  No.9  MIDORI BURLY  ($4.40 with bet365)

An edge in the weights here sees us going with MIDORI BURLY who is having his second Hong Kong start today and is capable of going one better in this contest. Last start, the Smart Missile gelding stepped foot onto Hong Kong soil for the first time and did himself proud as he beat all but one home, here in a Class 3 Hcp over 1400m. He settled near last and in the run home, just kept coming and turned plenty of heads in his Hong Kong debut as he grabbed the second prize, beaten just a length on the line. He can only improve on that run and today has (the maestro) Zac Purton aboard for this assignment. He won second-up last preparation and will strip even fitter off that first-up effort. Ideally drawn in gate two today, he can give this event a real shake.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 3:  No.1  C P BRAVE  ($4.40 with bet365)

The Ricky Yiu-trained C P BRAVE has found his mojo and looks nicely placed here for back-to-back victories. Last start, the Zoffany gelding won his first race in more than two years and did it in style by destroying a Class 3 Hcp, here over 1800m. He settled back in the field, then in the run home, French rider, Michael Barzalona, kept him under cover until the gaps came. Once he burrowed his way through, he burst on the scene and quickly put a space on the 14-strong field and went on to win by more than four lengths over the line. He carries an extra 5kgs today but also has James McDonald as the pilot and up against similar company, over the same trip, he is certainly in the mix today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.4  RED LION  ($5 with Ladbrokes)

John Size saddles-up RED LION here who is third-up today and more than capable of making life hard for his rivals in this contest. Last start, the Irish-sired gelding stepped up in grade and a further 200m in distance which, in the end, took its toll, seeing him finish unplaced in the Class 1 Hcp, here over 1600m. He has trialled twice since then, winning the last of those, here over 1200m. Karis Teetan is the new rider for this assignment and from gate three, he maps to settle right behind the pace. Already a winner when third-up and a four-time winner at the track and distance, he stands here as a major threat today.