Hong Kong: Selections for Happy Valley Dec. 3

Racing at Happy Valley begins at 6:10 a.m. ET. Selections and analysis by Luke Middlebrook.

Race 1: LAU SHUI HEUNG HANDICAP

#4 Happy Boys gets back in his races but possesses a sharp turn of foot and looks to get the pace he needs to launch late. James McDonald takes over for his second Class 5 attempt, barrier 3 gives him a perfect map opportunity, and he gives the impression he is ready to win. #3 Golden Friendship reunites with Purton, who rode him first-up when he finished a half-length behind Silver Spurs at this track and trip. His trial leading in was full of promise, although barrier 10 is the negative where Purton will be forced to show his hand early. #8 Happy Horse is more than capable off his current mark and comes here off a solid neck third, so he remains in the mix. #6 Sky Song gets a small gear tweak from blinkers to visor, which may help in some regard, and the switch to Bowman could bring about improvement.

Race 2: SHEK LEI PUI HANDICAP

#9 Management Folks has a strong affinity with this track and trip, returning two wins and three placings from ten attempts, and his first-up fourth over 1800m was an encouraging platform to build on. #8 Double Win finally broke through at start eighteen after a string of unlucky runs, and Manfred Man has him holding his form nicely. Barrier 1 gives him every chance to go back-to-back. #4 Serangoon looks set to hit his peak third-up as he rises to 2200m, having produced two sound efforts over shorter, and Purton sticking is a positive sign. #2 Sharpen Bright has moved stables since his last run, but still ticks plenty of boxes switching back to Happy Valley, where he's far more effective. He relishes 2200m with two wins and two seconds from four attempts and maps for a soft run from barrier 4.

Race 3: TAI LAM CHUNG HANDICAP

#1 Star Brose is knocking on the door since the slide to Class 5. He backs up quickly after a fast-finishing third in a slowly run race and now finds a scenario where he can go two places better. #6 Ninja Derby had a luckless trip when a little over a length away in third over 1800m at Sha Tin. His overall profile this season for Brett Crawford has been rock-solid, and with a cleaner run, he is right in the frame again. #5 Rosewood Fleetfoot can map far better on his second Class 5 attempt after a checkered passage from barrier 7 last time. The class drop has him poised to land a blow soon. #2 Storm Runner needs things to fall into place from barrier 12, but he has been holding his form all season, and with Purton staying aboard, he gets another chance to be in the finish.

Race 4: THE AMERICAN CLUB CHALLENGE CUP (HANDICAP)

#3 Turin Champions did his best work late on debut at Sha Tin, making solid ground from well back to finish sixth. He is a three-year-old who will improve with racing and, in a wide-open Class 4, appeals as one who can take a forward step, especially with Hugh Bowman taking over. #1 Great State resumes and draws ideally in barrier 2, giving him the chance to map sweetly to suit his pattern. This is only his second Class 4 attempt, and his first run in the grade showed progress. #5 California Deeply gets conditions to suit back to this track and trip, draws kindly, and importantly has James McDonald aboard. #2 Perfect General maps awkwardly from barrier 11 but arrives off a strong trial and historically has produced his best fresh, so he remains a genuine contender.

Race 5: TAI TAM HANDICAP

#11 Legendary Impact is trending the right way into his second Hong Kong season. He was only two lengths away in fifth third-up despite things going wrong in the run, and moving into barrier 1 gives him the map he needs to improve again. #2 Silver Spurs can take control of the race on the lead and be hard to run down. He has been excellent in four runs this campaign, posting two wins and two placings, and his last-start third carried merit after jumping from barrier 10 and doing early work. #8 Genius Baby wasn't disgraced on his stable debut for Brett Crawford, finishing three lengths away after a messy trip. That profile suggests improvement is on the way. #3 Swagger Bro resumes for Jamie Richards, has trialled well, and now gets his fifth chance in Class 4, where he has shown enough to be competitive and ready to break through.

Race 6: TAI TAM HANDICAP

#6 California Blitz returns to Happy Valley after three solid Sha Tin runs behind some useful types, including Robot Lucky Star two back and a last-start third to Szeryng. He is still searching for his maiden win, but that form reads strongly. #1 Lunar Dash won impressively first-up and dipped slightly second-up, though he did not disgrace himself given how the race unfolded. With market confidence firmly behind him both times, he deserves another chance. #7 One Love, from the John Size yard, is having his third start and closed off well for a fast-finishing seventh over 1000m when never fully tested. He looks ready for 1200m now and has plenty of improvement to come. #12 Von Baer is edging toward Class 5 but gets his opportunity here on a light weight after several encouraging efforts this campaign without breaking through.

Race 7: PLOVER COVE HANDICAP

#2 Eternal Fortune gets a race shape tailor-made for him with plenty of speed engaged and looks set to go one better after his narrow first-up second. His trial between runs was excellent; he draws barrier 1, and the switch to Purton is a clear positive. He is the one they all have to beat. #5 Parents' Love returns to his preferred track and trip after a late-fading sixth over 1000m at Sha Tin. He will be taken on for the lead but is honest enough to stick on for a placing. #4 Love Together also comes through that same race on debut. He showed natural speed, travelled well, and only tired late, suggesting clear improvement to come second-up. #7 Rising From Ashes is something of a wild card dropping back to the minimum trip, but he does possess a finish and can close off well if the pace collapses.

Race 8: HIGH ISLAND HANDICAP

#2 Joy of Spring relishes this track and trip with two from four, and an inside draw gives him the chance to settle closer than in his two most recent runs. That was the pattern he used when stringing wins together last season, and this sets up as the right race for him to rebound. #7 Charity Gain also appeals. He is second-up, and his first-up third was a strong return at a course and distance where he has a good record. #1 Fallon drops back into Class 3 for the first time in three starts and, importantly, returns to a track and trip where he is yet to miss the frame. Expect sharp improvement. #4 Wrote A New Page comes out of a slowly run race that blunted his finish. The 1650m is his proven range, but with maturity, the extra trip should be within reach.