Hong Kong Preview & Best Bets – 17/01/2024

Hong Kong Tips for Wednesday, January 17

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 4:  No.2  HEROIC MASTER  ($5.50 with Bet Right)

The Frankie Lor-trained HEROIC MASTER is in top-shelf form this time in and back at Happy Valley tonight, looks the testing material in this contest. Last start, the Not A Single Doubt gelding had his first look at the Sha Tin track and did well to grab third prize in a Class 3 over 1000m with J.Mac in the saddle that day. Settling mid-field with cover, J.Mac waiting as long as he dared before finding clean air at the 300m mark. From there, he ran home strongly carrying 60kgs but just couldn’t match it with the first two past the post, conceding both of them 4kgs in the event. He drops 1.5kgs tonight and with J.Mac back in Oz, he has a new pilot with Andrea Atzeni taking the reins here. From gate six, he maps to settle mid-field again and at his peak tonight, he should prove hard to hold out.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 8:  No.8  WATCH BUDDY  ($7 with bet365)

The Ricky Yiu-trained WATCH BUDDY has shown a real liking to the Happy Valley track and lining up here again, looks right in the mix tonight. Last start, the Rothesay gelding came off a Class 4 victory here when he stepped up in grade and faced the Class 3 brigade for the first time. Trapped wide the entire trip, he swung for home eight horses off the fence and did a mighty job to finish fourth, beaten less than a length on the line. With regular rider, Alex Badel unavailable due to suspension, Harry Bentley returns for his second ride on the four-year-old who has drawn much better here in gate two and maps to settle a little closer tonight. With a trouble-free run here, and already a two-time winner at the track and distance, he can give this contest a real shake.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.4  ERNEST FEELING  ($13 with Ladbrokes)

Jamie Richards saddles-up ERNEST FEELING here who hasn’t missed a top-two finish in three starts this campaign and looks a touch overs in this contest. Last start, the Epaulette gelding had the dream draw from gate one and sent out a red-hot $2 favourite, didn’t disappoint his supporters as he crossed the line first in a Class 4 Hcp, here over 1200m. Ridden a treat by Anthony Hamelin, he shared the lead on settling but had the advantage of inside running and set a slowish pace to the turn. On straightening, Hamelin asked him for a final effort and he managed to hold off all the challenges down the 300m home straight and win the race by half a length on the line. Hamelin sticks with him tonight where he has drawn quite wide in gate 11 (of 12) where he will need a little luck go his way but his early gate speed should see him settle better than mid-field just the same. If he doesn’t burn too much fuel early, he can match it with this field in the run home and give a bold sight (currently at double-figures) for our money.