Hong Kong Preview & Best Bets – 04/01/2024

Hong Kong Tips for Thursday, January 4

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.11  M UNICORN  ($2.70 with bet365)

Stepping-up to Class 3 company for the first time tonight, the Caspar Fownes-trained M UNICORN is high flying this time in and looks a serious player in this contest. Last start, the Savabeel gelding made it three wins from his past four starts when he easily accounted for a Class 4 Hcp, here over 1400m. Ridden an absolute treat by Ryan Moore, he had him mid-field on the fence to the turn, then eased him out and once the gap came, that was all she wrote, as Moore drove him to the lead and went on to win by a length on the line. He does face tougher company here but he drops 6.5kgs from that last-start win. Harry Bentley returns for tonight’s assignment, having steered the five-year-old to victory previously. Ideally drawn in gate four, he maps to settle better than mid-field and with a trouble-free run, he looks well placed to bring up the hat-trick tonight.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4:  No.9  STRONGEST BOY  ($4.80 with Bet Right)

The David Hayes-trained STRONGEST BOY remains a maiden after 13 starts but in good touch this time in, his luck can change tonight. Last start, he made it consecutive runner-up finishes when he beat all but one home again in a Class 4 Hcp, here over the 1650m trip. He drew the car park in gate 12 (of 12) and settled last where he remained to the turn. Looking 100-1 on straightening, Zac Purton wound him up and slipping through gaps as they appeared, hew stormed home to finish within a length of victory. Lyle Hewitson is the new pilot tonight and from gate nine, similar tactics will probably be engaged, seeing him settle in the back half of the field. Now four starts into this preparation, he will be rock-hard fit and a similar finishing effort here can see him first past the post tonight.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 8:  No.6  MAJESTIC KNIGHT  ($5 with bet365)

Doug Whyte saddles-up MAJESTIC KNIGHT here who is in top-shelf form this time in and boasts strong claims in this contest. Last start, the Redoute’s Choice gelding came off a crushing win two starts back in Class 3 company when he followed it up, finishing second in his first attempt against Class 2 gallopers, here over 1200m. Trying to lead all the way, he looked home inside the final 2000m but was run down by Son Pak Fu, whom he meets here again, but also meets him better at the weights tonight. Karis Teetan has his first ride on the five-year-old here who draws nicely in gate three and just may settle in front again. If he can dominate the pace and keep them bottled-up for a while, they might find him hard to run down. Rock-hard fit after four starts this campaign, using the right tactics, he can steal this event.