Hong Kong Preview & Best Bets – 28/02/2024

Hong Kong Tips for Wednesday, February 28

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  EIGHTEEN PALMS

Danny Shum saddles-up EIGHTEEN PALMS here who has run himself into form of late and looks ideally placed here for back-to-back victories tonight. Last start, the El Roca gelding settled outside the leader and remained on the speed to the turn. He took control soon after and showed a solid turn of foot over the final 100m to go on and score comfortably, putting almost two lengths on them over the line. The Handicapper didn’t miss that performance either and dishes out an extra 4.5kgs for him to carry tonight, however four starts back now he should be at his peak for this contest. Harry Bentley steered him to that last-start win and has the reins again for this assignment. He is a track and distance specialist with two wins and five minor placings coming from nine starts here and he looks the testing material again.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 8:  No.2  JOYFUL HUNTER

The Francis Lui-trained JOYFUL HUNTER is unbeaten at Happy Valley and returning here tonight, looks set to keep that trend going in this contest. Last start, the Darci Brahma gelding just missed a podium finish for the second-straight time at Sha Tin when finishing fourth in a Class 3 contest over 1200m. While beaten almost three almost three lengths on the day, it was still a creditable effort considering the winner (Ka Ying Rising) ran out the 1200m in a sizzling 1:08.9. The four-year-old meets similar opposition here but drops 2kgs for the event. Andrea Atzeni sticks with him tonight and back in his comfort zone, he should take beating here.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 5:  No.3  HEALTHY HEALTHY

The Pierre Ng-trained HEALTHY HEALTHY is in great touch this time in and looks well placed in this field to score another victory tonight. Last start, the Per Incanto gelding bounced back from a poor showing two starts back and beat all but one home in a Class 3 Hcp, here over 1200m. Leading most of the way that night, he settled down to a two-horse battle but was nosed-out on the line by Watch Buddy who drew the better gate and did a lot less work in running. He’s not here tonight and the four-year-old draws much better for this contest. Alex Badel sticks with him with a trouble-free run, he should be there at the finish.