Hong Kong Preview & Best Bets – 07/04/2024

Hong Kong Tips for Sunday, April 7

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.2  BEAUTY ETERNAL  

John Size saddles-up track specialist, BEAUTY ETERNAL here and after five starts this campaign, looks all set for a full-on assault in this year’s Chairman’s Trophy. Last start, the Starspangledbanner gelding gave his all when finishing just one length (fourth) behind multi-Group One winner California Spangle in the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, here over 1400m. He kept coming and coming but couldn’t reach the winner in time. Already a three-time winner her over the mile trip, he should appreciate the rise in trip today and after riding him to all eight career-wins to date, Zac Purton steers the ship again. If he can settle early and find clean air on straightening, he take beating in this contest.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 3:  No.2  EIGHTY EIGHT YEARS

The ever-consistent EIGHTY EIGHT YEARS has managed to string together six-straight podium finishes from as many starts this time in and all things considered here, that doesn’t look like changing today. Last start, the Dream Ahead gelding recorded his fourth runner-up finish when he beat all but one home in a Class 3 Hcp, here over 1200m. He looked a $1.01 at the 100m mark, but somehow managed to be run down right on the line to the crowd’s amazement. Zac Purton was aboard that day and sticks with him here looking to avenge that last-start loss. He draws much better here in gate three where he will settle on the speed. With a trouble-free run today, he can bounce back and bring up his second track and distance victory in this contest.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 10:  No.3  ILLUMINOUS 

The Frankie Lor-trained ILLUMINOUS is a former Australian galloper who is three starts back from a lengthy 10-month absence today and should now be ready to record his first Hong Kong win in this contest. Last start, the Rock Sturdy gelding missed the jump and settled second-last, ten lengths off the speed. Karis Teetan weaved his way through traffic in the run home which saw the galloper grab second prize, beaten less than a length on the line. Nicely drawn in gate three today, Teetan sticks with the four-year-old and will no doubt be looking at going one better today. He drops in weight here and should be thereabouts when it counts.