Happy Valley Preview

R1 – Australia Handicap (Class 5) (3yo+) (Turf) 1200M

Valhalla is the obvious starting point. The Ocean Park gelding justified favouritism last month, his second C&D victory this campaign. Off a 6Ib higher mark he might still confirm superiority over Noir Rider, H Z Tourbillon, Hercules and Crystal Powerful. H Z Tourbillon stayed on well for third after a customary slow start. He will be dropped in by Tom Marquand from gate 12, requires luck in running and probably best of the quintet if breaking on terms. By a process of elimination, the vote goes to MODEST GENTLEMAN (Next Best) for Francis Lui. Formerly trained in Ireland, he was favourite for his seasonal return when finishing third to Alloy King. He’s significantly better off at the weights with Valhalla, in fourth, and wears first time blinkers. He definitely has the ability and booking Lyle Hewitson gives him every chance.

R2 – France Handicap (Class 5) (3yo+) (Turf) 1650M

HAPPY JAI JAI landed a hat-trick of wins last year under ‘Magic Man’ João Moreira but 0-17 since. He arrives in good form, having finished ‘323’ this season and Zac Purton keeps faith with the Savabeel Gelding. Little separates the selection and rivals 4, 6, 8, 9 on their C&D run behind Right Honourable last month, so I’m including a different form angle with the top-weight, CHARMANDER (Each Way), for my second selection. The Jamie Richards 5YO drops in grade following an encouraging run over an inadequate 1200M. His pilot, Vincent Ho took the reins last season when a fair seventh over C&D, off 11Ib higher.

R3 – Germany Handicap (Class 4) (3yo+) (1650M)

TURIN WARRIOR has improved for the switch to Manfred Man and taken to go one better following two runner-up spots this campaign. He has to defy the widest barrier but it’s encouraging to see Zac Purton keep faith with the son of Not A Single Doubt. Another to consider is ROYAL PRIDE (EW) under James McDonald. Though 6Ib above his last success, he goes well over C&D, amply demonstrated by an excellent second in last year’s renewal.

R4 – IJC – 1st Leg (Handicap) (Class 4) (3yo+) 1000M

The IJC begins with a helter-skelter dash where GALVANIC (Best Bet) can make the breakthrough. The Caspar Fownes 4YO has certainly been costly to follow – the Ilovethiscity gelding has failed to justify favouritism 4 times – but has maintained good form since leaving the Jamie Richards barn in June. On his seasonal return, only the class-dropper, Street Conqueror denied him victory, and gate 12 scuppered his chance last time when sixth to Talents Supremo. He looks to be crying out for a drop to 1000M and gets his opportunity under Tom Marquand, no stranger to these shores and winner of Leg 3 in last year’s IJC. Others to consider include, Gorgeous Vitality, partnered by the excellent, Bauyrzhan Murzabayev – Originally from Kazakhstan but a jockey who made his name in Germany. A wide draw was against the Deep Field gelding two back, but he ran third last month and the dual C&D winner has each way claims. Zac Purton rides Savvy Delight, ideally drawn on the rail, but a 1-26 profile doesn’t inspire confidence. Diamond Soars has won back to back this season but a 6Ib impost denied him the hat-trick last month.

R5 – IJC – 2nd Leg (Handicap) (Class 4) (3yo+) 1650M

Difficult to rule out any in a very tricky contest. The vote goes to RED HARE KING for the Tony Cruz barn. He won at Sha Tin last season and competes off the same mark. He enters the reckoning on a penultimate third to Durham Star over track and trip. Ideally berthed in gate 3, the So You Think gelding can score under Lyle Hewitson – the three-time South African Champion was onboard Wide Blue Yonder, when winning at Sha Tin last month – James McDonald takes over on the top-weight. No Alexis Badel or Antoine Hamelin in the IJC, but we do have Gallic flare, courtesy of Mickael Barzalona. The Frenchman partners Durham Star, a track and trip winner on his penultimate start. Only eighth last time, he can bounce back. Others to consider include, Beauty Mission, a C&D winner two back under Matthew Chadwick and now partnered by Bauyrzhan Murzabayev.

R6 – Great Britain Handicap (Class 4) (3yo+) 1200M

An impossible looking sprint but the dart lands on HAPPY TRIO, a last start salute for Douglas Whyte. The dual C&D winner has it to prove off a career high mark, but he overcame a tough run last month and might be improving. Luke Ferraris maintains the partnership. Ernest Feeling is respected up in grade. Golden Rise has barrier 12 to defy but is unexposed while Wood On Fire won last time. Healthy Healthy is drawn wide but likely to inject pace to the contest under Zac Purton.

R7 – IJC – 3rd Leg (Handicap) (Class 3) (3yo+) 1650M

Two selections starting with E LEGEND, a good ride for the Kazakhstan ace, Bauyrzhan Murzabayev. The son of Dissident was denied by Quantum Patch last month but can reverse form on more favourable terms. FLYING MOJITO breaks from the plum draw under ever popular, Hollie Doyle. The David Hall 5YO is lightly raced and makes only his second visit to Happy Valley.

R8 – IJC – 4th Leg (Handicap) (Class 3) (3yo+) 1200M

A cracking dash for the cash with GAMEPLAYER ELITE taken to open his account. There was plenty to like about his local debut when sixth to Lucky Archangel over C&D and he built on that with a never nearer fourth to Wonder Kit. The winner did the form no harm up in grade, last week, when fifth to Son Pak Fu. The selection races off the same mark with James McDonald taking the reins. Drawn next door is my second selection, SOLAR PARTNER, ridden by Ryan Moore. The Zoustar gelding signed off last season with back to back wins and returned with an encouraging fifth to Lightning Bolt. For a 6YO he’s lightly raced and the jockey booking an obvious plus. Lucky Archangel is better than ever but needs more to complete the four-timer. Tomodachi Kokoroe won over C&D two back and was narrowly denied by the progressive Wonder Kit two weeks later. He can’t be discounted.

R9 – Japan Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+) 1800M

James McDonald can win onboard HELENE FEELING for Danny Shum. The Sioux Nation gelding won on his seasonal bow and wasn’t beaten far in two subsequent runs. Formerly trained by Michael Bell in England, he got into his stride quickly in Hong Kong with an excellent third to Howdeepisyourlove over 1200M. I liked his latest run when fourth to Telecom Fighters and the return to 1800M looks ideal. It’s no cakewalk taking on your elders but he looks progressive. Obvious dangers include hat-trick seeking, Rising From Ashes and top-weight, Tourbillon Diamond – the latter (when trained by Danny Shum) chased home stablemate Romantic Warrior in the Jockey Club Cup just over a year ago, and his latest second to Champion Dragon, was his best performance so far under the care of Mark Newnham. He carries 135Ib but this represents a drop in class. The Best Peach is 0-4 this campaign but has performed well – he makes a relatively quick back-up following a never nearer fifth in the Chevalier Cup. Zac Purton is booked and it’ll be interesting to see how he goes on his ‘City Circuit’ debut. All For St Paul’s is well drawn for a front-runner and a nice ride for Mickael Barzalona.