Hong Kong Preview May 17 – Wednesday Best Bets & Tips

Hong Kong Tips 17/05/2023

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.3  MEANINGFUL STAR  ($4.20 with bet365)

Francis Lui saddles-up MEANINGFUL STAR here who is fourth-up tonight and should be ready to produce his best. Last start, the British-bred gelding finished bridesmaid for the second consecutive time when he beat all but Viva Hunter home in a nail-biting finish, here in a Class 3 Hcp over 1650m. Half-way down the straight, he looked as though he had the leader’s measure but Viva Hunter kept finding something and hung on to win by a long neck on the line. Vince Ho sticks with him here and rock hard fit after three runs back now, he can go one better tonight.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 9:  No.6  BRAVE STAR  ($3.40 with bet365)

Another from the Lui stables is BRAVE STAR who is in great touch of late and has the runs on the board here to be considered a serious player in this contest. Last start, the Myboycharlie gelding came off a good win here and came within a whisker of making it two straight when he beat all but Nordic Dragon home in a Class 3, here over 1200m. Nordic Dragon has since won again, carrying 4kgs more than his last win. That’s good form to bring into this event tonight. Vince Ho (who has already steered the galloper to both career wins to date) sticks with him here and ideally drawn in gate three, maps to settle better than mid-field with cover. He looks primed to bounced back tonight and take home the major prize.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.9  ABOVE ALL  ($10 with Bet Right)

The Tony Millard-trained ABOVE ALL is three starts into this campaign and showing great improvement of late, looks a serious winning chance here tonight. Last start, the Deep Field gelding was beaten less than a length when he took home third prize in a Class 4 Hcp, here over 1200m. Brazilian rider Ruan Maia was aboard that night and had the five-year-old box-seating to the turn. He worked off the fence and made his move, passing the weakening leader before succumbing to a late charge by a couple of swoopers who finished best to fill the quinella. Fitter for three runs back, he is already a two-time winner at the track and distance and ideally drawn here in gate four, all he needs is a clear run home and he should prove competitive again at great odds.