Hong Kong Preview & Best Bets – Wednesday January 4

Steve Bennett

in Bets of the Day 4 Jan 2023

Hong Kong Tips 04/01/2023

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6: No.9 E BROTHER ($3.10 with Ladbrokes)

Manfred Mann saddles-up E BROTHER here who has raced himself into top form of late and should prove hard to beat in this event. Last start, the Star Witness gelding can off consecutive minor money finishes when he went one better and claimed victory in a Class 4 Hcp, here over 1200m. That was a welcome relief to connections, being his maiden win after 16 career starts. He ran that trip out, 4.4 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best in this field and a new personal best for him as well. Four start back, he will be rock-hard fit now and ideally drawn in gate two, he should have little trouble in settling on the speed and prove hard to hold out tonight.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4: No.8 HAPPY JAI JAI ($9 with Neds)

The Benno Yung-trained HAPPY JAI JAI is third-up tonight and boasting a solid course and distance record, looks right in the mix here. Last start, the Savabeel gelding was second-up when he finished mid-field in a Class 4 Hcp, here over the 1650m trip. He settle nicely in the box seat, but used up too much juice chasing the tearaway leader and had nothing left for the final 200m. Despite the disappointing finish, he ran the trip out, 2.3 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best last-start effort here. Drawn well again (in gate four), he gets the chance to atone for that last-start defeat and fitter for two runs back, he looks well worth an each-way ticket in this contest.

BEST VALUE 💰

Race 7: No.1 AMAZING ROCKY ($8.50 with Neds)

Benno Yung saddles-up AMAZING ROCKY here who is in great touch after three starts this preparation and looks a solid chance in this contest at odds. Last start, the Bel Esprit gelding came off a five-week let-up and after early interference, still finished best to take out a Class 4 Hcp, here over 1000m. He ran it out, 6.6 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best in this line-up by 5 lengths. Hugh Bowman has the reins for the first time tonight and from gate one, gets the gun-run here. Already a two-time winner at the track, he looks a little ‘overs’ here and is well worth an each-way ticket tonight.