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Hong Kong Racing Tips: Trooper can take Jumbo Prize for in-form Ricky Yiu

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HONG KONG, CHINA - JULY 10: Horses are seen on the racetrack at the Happy Valley racecourse on July 10, 2019 in Hong Kong, China. The famous racecourse continues to be the center of horse racing in Hong Kong, since 1846 when a group of colonial equestrian enthusiasts decided to have the swamp land reclaimed and made into a racecourse. In 1973 the Hong Kong Jockey Club decided to introduce night racing, the floodlit races were a success, and have become popular amongst the expat and local community alike. Hong Kong is approaching a political crossroads after two months of widespread protests over a proposed extradition bill, which raise more fundamental questions about its relationship with mainland China. Since 1997, when it was handed back to China after 156 years of British rule, it has enjoyed a special status governed by the principle of “One Country, Two Systems.” The arrangement gave Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy over domestic affairs, retaining its independent judiciary, rule of law, free trade and free speech. However, its political candidates must be vetted by Beijing, and in the years since the handover, increased Chinese influence has become a major source of tension. In 2014, hundreds of thousands of protesters occupied the central business district for more than three months calling on changes to the electoral system, in what was dubbed the “Umbrella Movement.” With the proposal of the new extradition bill, many Hongkongers see this as another step by China to assert control and have taken to the streets once again. Faced with the backlash, Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, has insisted the bill is “dead,” but protesters have continued weekly rallies and demanded Lam’s resignation. As protests continue to gather momentum, where they will lead is still unknown - calls for full independence remain scarce - but recent rumblings from China’s military suggest a sustained political storm. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

IN-FORM Ricky Yiu looks to be the trainer to follow when racing resumes at Happy Valley in Hong Kong today.

Yiu is in the middle of a purple patch, with two winning trebles at the Valley and Sha Tin in the past week, rocketing him to the head of the trainer’s leaderboard with 20 winners.

He has trained an impressive eight winners from his last 26 runners, a remarkable strike rate considering his stable is predominantly filled with middle-of-the-road gallopers.

His record at Happy Valley is even more impressive with 10 wins and four places so far, even putting him ahead of ‘King of the Valley’ trainer Caspar Fownes.

Yiu saddles four runners at the inner-city track and all are going to be popular with the local punters. Winwin Thirtythree makes a quick reappearance to the track having suffered a desperate journey when runner- up at Sha Tin last Saturday.

He lines up in the five-furlong Hawick Handicap (10.45am), but an outside draw and a drop down in distance tempers enthusiasm. Focus has solid each-way claims off bottom-weight in the following Jedburgh Handicap (11.15am). He’s had no luck in recent runs but he’s mapped to get an ideal journey from an inside drawn.

Probable favourite Top Score is an obvious threat, as are the improving pair of Supreme Plus and Simply Fluke in what looks a tough and competitive handicap.

Yiu’s best chance of success could be KING’S TROOPER, who will be seeking to compensate supporters for an expensive last-start defeat, when he lines-up in the six-furlong Handicap (12.45pm).

This Australian bred four-year-old, an impressive course and distance winner in September, was all the rage to successfully follow-up last month but raced too freely from the off and ran out of petrol down the home straight.

A recent trial where he settled in midfield with cover before finishing strongly suggests he will be ridden in similar style this afternoon, and with an inside draw a bonus can get back to winning form.

Hat-trick seeking Gentle Breeze represents the Yiu stable in the main event of the day, The St Andrew’s Challenge Quaich Handicap (1.15pm).

Gentle Breeze was one of the easiest winners in a long while at the Valley this season when putting clear daylight between himself and his rivals over the course and distance three weeks ago.

The handicapper clearly rated that performance highly, giving the five-year-old a hefty 12lb hike in the weights.

Another negative is that he finds himself starting from a double-figure draw, which makes his life much tougher, especially with plenty of early-speed rivals to contend with.

These factors give trainer Caspar Fownes the chance to bounce back into the limelight when he saddles well-drawn JUMBO PRIZE, who looks exceptionally well-handicapped on recent form.

This lightly-raced but progressive four-year-old ran a race full of promise on his first attempt over the minimum trip at Sha Tin earlier this month.

On that occasion, in a race containing half-a-dozen previous winners, Jumbo Prize raced on the slowest part of the track, but still stayed on strongly in the closing stages to finish fourth.

In a race likely to be fast and furious from the off, he is drawn for a rail-hugging journey and can then make his bid for glory down the home stretch.

POINTERS

King’s Trooper 12.45pm Happy Valley

Jumbo Prize 1.15pm Happy Valley