HAPPY VALLEY PREVIEW

RACE ONE – MULTIMORE / VALHALLA

Tricky opener as always, but I’ll take two against the field – Multimore has done little wrong this season, beginning with a podium finish behind Valhalla over 1200M, followed by two good runs over track and trip. Dylan Mo did little wrong on the Benno Yung 7YO the last twice – indeed, the 30 year old has taken the reins for both victories, but the return of Zac Purton is a statement of intent and the selection is 3Ib below his last winning mark. Barrier 9 of 9 isn’t ideal but he possesses sufficient gate speed to adopt a favourable position over a trip where only two of rivals have winning form.

Valhalla will be tested over this distance, where he’s 0-4, but remains in good heart following a breakthrough success in September under Keagan De Melo. Off a career low mark, the son of Ocean Park quickened up nicely when the gap came, and looks a leading player under Brenton Avdulla if keeping tabs on the leaders from the plum draw.

RACE TWO – HAPPY HERO

RACE THREE – HUMBLE STAR (BB)

Very little separates four of these rivals who met in a similar heat last month. On that occasion, Heroic Master landed the prize, seemingly deserted by Zac Purton, having ridden him to third on his seasonal return behind Harmony N Blessed and Humble Star. With Purton switching to the latter, Heroic Master was sent off a generous price under Karis Teetan (the biggest of the first four home), but might do well to confirm superiority with third placed, Humble Star, off his revised mark. With the six-time champion jockey keeping faith with the Pierre Ng 5YO, he gets the vote to win at this trip for the third time, having scored at Muswellbrook and Gosford, in his native Australia.

Dangers include the aforementioned, Heroic Master, a game winner last time, taking his career record to 4 wins from 13 starts. With Teetan maintaining the partnership he remains a serious player off a workable mark.

Majestic Knight has a modest 2-20 strike-rate but admirably consistent with numerous placings. He made the top 3 on five of his six starts last season and separated Heroic Master and Humble Star last time out. With connections choosing to claim off Angus Chung, he looks set to go well, though he will have pace pressure from Super Axiom, drawn on the paint under Dylan Mo.

RACE FOUR – SPEEDSTAR

RACE FIVE – TURIN WARRIOR / FORTUNE PRESIDENT (EW)

The Manfred Man 6YO remains winless after 22 local starts but has finished second on five occasions (four over track and trip) and runs off a competitive mark. It’s clear that these are his optimum conditions and Zac Purton keeps the faith following an excellent runner-up to Lean Hero last month.

For an each way alternative, Fortune President makes plenty of appeal for Me Tsui. Unlike Turin Warrior, he knows how to win and his latest success came over track and trip. He returns only a week after an eighth to Mission Bravo on the Sha Tin dirt, an effort better than it appears, considering he raced without cover under Keagan De Melo. With a mere six runs over C&D, the son of More Than Ready is interesting back on his last winning mark and well drawn under Matthew Chadwick.

Sure Joyful raced mainly over 1200M last season but it was over 1400M that he achieved a breakthrough win on his seasonal return. Up 6Ib for that success, he could only finish mid-pack over C&D to Lean Hero, last month, but it might be worth giving him one more chance with Matthew Poon taking his useful 2Ib off.

RACE SIX – KOKUSHI MUSOU

The in-form Caspar Fownes 6YO remains 1Ib higher than his last winning mark, but is reunited with Alexis Badel, onboard for that success, achieved last season.

RACE SEVEN – SOLID SHALAA (NB)

RACE EIGHT – OUTGATE

RACE NINE – RED ELEGANCE

Taking a chance in the last with the son of Toronado. Lightly raced and not beaten far on his seasonal return sixth to Lucky Archangel. Gate 10 is the rub, but I like the booking of Lyle Hewitson and he can outrun his odds in the lucky last.