Hong Kong Preview & Best Bets – 26/12/2023

Hong Kong Tips for Tuesday, December 26

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.9  GORGEOUS WIN  ($2.40 with bet365)

Danny Shum saddles-up GORGEOUS WIN here and after two successful runs in Hong Kong, looks the testing material in the contest today. Last start, the former Australian galloper improved off his first-start minor placing and clobbered his Class 4 rivals, here over 1200m with Zac Purton in the saddle. He broke 1:10 that day (1:09.55) as he crossed the line 2.5 lengths clear of the 14-strong field. He steps-up to Class 3 competition today but drops 3.5kgs in the process. Purton sticks with him for this assignment and on current form, he should prove hard to beat.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 3:  No.2  SEASON’S WIT  ($3.50 with bet365)

The Jamie Richards-trained SEASON’S WIT has settled in nicely to the Hong Kong scene, winning four of his eight starts since arriving (from Australia) and looks set for another bold performance here. Last start, the Capitalist gelding had 61kgs and drew the outside gate where Zac Purton used him up early to push forward where he found a sit right behind the leader. The first 500m work took its toll however, and in the run home, he had nothing left, which saw him weaken to finish last of the 11 runners in the Class 2 contest at Happy Valley. He draws much better today in gate two and should be box-seating on settling this time. Already a winner when third-up, Purton sticks with him here for his first run on the all-weather-track and fitter for those two runs back, he looks a genuine chance today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 9:  No.5  SUMMIT CHEERS  ($8 with bet365) 

The David Hall-trained SUMMIT CHEERS is in great touch this time in and the track specialist ticks all the boxes here to suggest he can give this a real shake at odds today. Last start, the Zoustar gelding made it two wins from his three starts this campaign when he took out a Class 3, here over the 1000m down the straight course. Blocked for a run most of the way, Alex Badel found a way through and steered him over the line to score an impressive win. He has gate one today which should see him settle back in the field and save his best for a final effort over the last 200m. Badel sticks with him here and although up a little in weight, he should still be finishing on where it counts most.