Ipswich Preview & Best Bets - Wednesday October 19
Hong Kong Preview & Best Bets – Wednesday October 19
Hong Kong Tips 19/10/2022 (Happy Valley)
Our form expert provides Hong Kong tips for today’s horse racing at Happy Valley Racecourse and gives his best bets.
BEST BET 🏆
Race 6: No.6 EXCELLENT PEERS ($3.20 with Unibet)
The Frankie Lor-trained EXCELLENT PEERS is second-up tonight and coming off five-straight top-two finishes, certainly commands respect here. Last start, the Jimmy Choux gelding came off the season break and was impressive when beating all but one home in a Class 3 Hcp, here over 1200m. He flew over the final 600m, running it out, 9.8 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best in this field by 3 lengths. He covered the entire trip, 5 lengths quicker than standard, setting a new personal best and recording the fastest final 800m to 200m sectionals for that race as well. Drawn the fence tonight, Matt Chadwick sticks with him and fitter for that first-up run, he will take a power of beating here.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 2: No.5 HERCULES ($7 with bet365)
The Dennis Yip-trained HERCULES has come back in top form and third-up tonight looks a real player in this contest. Last start, the Medaglia D’Oro gelding improved even further on his first-up podium finish by proving too good for them in a Class 4 Hcp, here over 1200m. He ran that trip out, 2 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best last-start effort here while posting the fastest final 800m to 200m sectionals for the race as well. Alex Badel sticks with him here where he does no early work from gate three. His resume boasts three wins and eight other top-three finishes at the track and distance and at his peak third-up tonight, he will take beating here.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 8: No.3 SMART IDEA ($11 with bet365)
Frankie Lor saddles-up Smart Idea in this event and fresh off a 14-week spell, is capable of upsetting a few of these tonight. Last start, the Swiss Ace gelding ended a rather successful campaign by beating all but one to the line in the Class 3 Stevenson Cup over 1200m at Sha Tin. Drawing the car park that day (gate 11 of 12), He ran home strongly to be beaten less than a length with Harry Bentley on board. He ran a new personal best, covering the trip, 7.1 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best in this line-up. Bentley has steered the four-year-old to all four victories to date (all of which have been at this track and distance) and remains in the saddle tonight. He has finished runner-up in both previous first-up appearances and at (currently) double-figure odds, he can give this contest a real shake tonight.
