Hong Kong Preview & Best Bets – Wednesday February 1

Steve Bennett

in Bets of the Day 1 Feb 2023

Hong Kong Tips 01/02/2023

Our form expert provides Hong Kong tips for tonight’s horse racing at Happy Valley Racecourse and gives his best bets.

BEST BET 🏆

Race 9: No.7 GOLD GOLD BABY ($2.90 with Palmerbet)

The Francis Lui-trained GOLD GOLD BABY is in white-hot form this time in and this contest looks at his mercy tonight. Last start, the US-bred gelding made it four wins from his past five starts when he took out a Class 3 Hcp, here over 1200m. With Vince Ho aboard, he ran the trip out, 8.2 lengths quicker than benchmark, setting a new personal best and the best last-start effort in this line-up. He also recorded the fastest final 800m, 600m and 400m sectionals for the race. Vince Ho has steered the galloper to all four career wins and is in the saddle again here. Ideally drawn in gate three, he will settle back in the field but expect another whirlwind finish again.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4: No.8 PACKING SUCCEEDER ($2.90 with bet365)

The Peter Ho-trained PACKING SUCCEEDER has his second race start tonight and gives the impression he will take beating here. On debut, the Pins gelding impressed when finishing third in a Class 4 Hcp, here over the mile trip. Beaten less than a length on the line, he ran his last 600m, 5.4 lengths quicker than benchmark, second-best only to Copartner Fionn (who is yet to win a race on Hong Kong soil after ten starts). Zac Purton has the reins for tonight’s contest and from gate seven, he maps to settle the four-year-old, mid-field with cover. Fitter for that debut run, he looks in the mix here.

BEST VALUE 💰

Race 7: No.5 KING ECCELLENTE ($6.50 with Ladbrokes)

Doug Whyte saddles-up KING ECCELLENTE here who looks poised to bring up the hat-trick tonight. Last start, the Exceed And Excel gelding made it back-to-back wins when he proved too good for a Class 4 field, here over 1200m. He jumped from gate nine that night and has the same gate here. Karis Teetan is two from two with the four-year-old and has the job again tonight. Meeting similar company over the same trip, a trouble-free run here could see him make it three-straight at odds.