Hong Kong Preview & Best Bets – 17/12/2023

Hong Kong Tips for Sunday, December 17

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 9:  No.6  KARMA  ($1.90 with bet365)

Caspar Fownes saddles-up KARMA here who is in good touch lately and looks a serious contender for first prize in this contest. Last start, the Turn Me Loose gelding came off a Class 4 win on this track when he then stepped-up to Class 3 company and impressed greatly when beating home all but one at Happy Valley over the mile. Vince Ho was aboard on both occasions and sticks with the five-year-old for this assignment. Nicely drawn in gate four today, he maps to settle better than mid-field and in top-shelf form of late, looks set to give this a real shake.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.7  INVINCIBLE SAGE  ($2.10 with bet365)

The David Hall-trained INVINCIBLE SAGE is in top-shelf form this time in and looks a strong chance here to bring up the hat-trick today. Last start, the Australian-bred gelding made it back-it-back victories when he took out a Class 3, here over the 1000m with Hugh Bowman on board that day. Ridden a real treat that day, Bowman played the waiting game and when opportunity appeared, he drove the four-year-old through the gaps and arrived in time to claim the major prize. With Bowman unavailable, Zac Purton is legged aboard today and from gate seven, the galloper maps to settle back again and be waiting for the same gaps to turn up in this contest. Already a winner when third-up and a two-time winner here over the trip, surely just bad luck robs him of a third-straight win today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 10:  No.2  CELESTIAL COLOURS  ($13 with bet365)

The Jamie Richards-trained CELESTIAL COLOURS is second-up today and having just his second start on Hing Kong soil, he looks a major player in this contest. Last start, the Zoustar gelding gave a bold sight in his Hong Kong debut and as they passed the 300m mark, he was still in front. With Lyle Hewitson in the saddle, he fought on gamely to finish fifth in the 14-strong field, beaten less than three lengths over the line. Already a two-time winner when second-up, the former Aussie galloper will most certainly strip fitter for that first-up effort and at odds today, looks right in the mix for a victory here.