Hong Kong Preview & Best Bets – 21/01/2024

Hong Kong Tips for Sunday, January 21

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.5  ENSUED  ($2.70 with Palmerbet)

John Size has ENSUED lining-up here and in top-shelf form this time in, looks the one to beat again. Last start, Karis Teetan was legged aboard for the first time and that proved a successful move as the Mauritian-born jockey steered the four-year-old home in his first attempt at Class 2 level. Perfectly ridden by Teetan, he had him settled in the one, one and as if the script was written, took over inside the final 200m and fought off the challenges all the way to the line. His resume shows he is unbeaten in two starts here over the 2000m trip and despite the weight rise today, he should be at his peak after four runs this preparation and will take beating here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 3:  No.2  WUNDERBAR  ($2.30 with bet365)

The John Size-trained WUNDERBAR arrived in Hong Kong, unraced as a three-year-old and has since exploded onto the scene with three wins from four starts and looks the best on today’s program. Last start, the Rich Enuff gelding faced Class 3 company for the second time and fought it out with Ka Ying Rising for the final 200m, getting the bob-in on the line. James McDonald had him box-seating from barrier rise which probably gave him the edge that day. He draws gate two again here which should see him box-seating again while Ka Ying Rising jumps from the outside gate (10) today and will need some luck from there. The better gate and J.Mac hold the key here and with a trouble-free run to the line, the three-year-old can go back-to-back today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.5  BEAUTY ETERNAL  ($3.60 with bet365)

John Size saddles-up BEAUTY ETERNAL here who missed his first podium finish in 13 starts last time out but gets his chance to bounce back here. Last start, the Starspangledbanner gelding faced the best of them in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile and wasn’t disgraced when finishing unplaced behind the great Golden Sixty, beaten 3.5 lengths that day. He will strip fitter today after three runs back and the smaller field will work to his advantage too as he can settle a little closer to the speed. Zac Purton has been the only jockey to sit on the back of the five-year-old and to date, has celebrated eight victories from his 13 rides. A trouble-free run today can see the five-year-old challenging for the major prize here.