Hong Kong Thursday morning: Picks, analysis, free PPs

Hong Kong racing from Happy Valley is Thursday at 6:40 a.m. EDT. Free PPs are available at Horse Racing Nation. For more free handicapping information, visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

Race 1: 1 Little Fairy, 5 Beau Gosse, 2 Tattenham, 12 Hang’s Choice

Race 2: 6 Beauty Waves, 1 Majestic Knight, 2 Nervous Witness, 5 Baby Crystal

Race 3: 12 Modest Gentleman, 2 Ma Comet, 5 Grand Nova, 10 Parents’ Love

Race 4: 11 My Intelligent, 12 Colonel, 3 Aurora Lady, 7 Sky Prophet

Race 5: 6 The Azure, 11 Lucky Banner, 4 Northern Beast, 2 Dragon Star

Race 6: 8 Super Hong Kong, 3 Joy Of Spring, 1 Intrepid Winner, 5 Forever Glorious

Race 7: 7 Ragnarr, 1 Flying Wrote, 3 Gallant Valour, 10 Travel Golf

Race 8: 5 Star Contact, 11 Jumbo Legend, 2 Zoom Boom, 1 Red Hare King

Race 9: 4 California Touch, 2 Watch Buddy, 1 Nordic Dragon, 6 Lucky Archangel

Race 1: Tsun Yeun Handicap

No. 1 Little Fairy is much better suited to this grade. His most recent start in Class 5 yielded a win and he gets another super chance this week, especially from gate two. One to beat. No. 5 Beau Gosse mixes his form, although he is capable. He has the draw to overcome, however, he has strung together several nice efforts this season. No. 2 Tattenham has an ideal draw and hails from an in-form stable. The step down to Class 5 is what he needs. No. 12 Hang’s Choice slots in light and gets an opportunity. He is worth respecting.

Race 2: Briar Handicap

No. 6 Beauty Waves slots in light and continues to improve. He is favored here and the inside draw should afford him a sweet passage. He’ll take beating. No. 1 Majestic Knight can easily bounce back after last start. He’s much better than that and the small field should see bad luck removed from the equation. No. 2 Nervous Witness gets the cheekpieces applied in a bid to spark up. He’s hard to get a gauge on at times, although he does do his best racing over this trip. No. 5 Baby Crystal is arguably much improved at Sha Tin, although he has claims.

Race 3: Hawthorn Handicap

No. 12 Modest Gentleman has been racing and well and features as a two-time winner in Class 5. He’s favored at the bottom of the handicap here and can easily improve from his most recent effort. No. 2 Ma Comet is looking to snap consecutive placings with a first win in Hong Kong. Karis Teetan hops up and he gets his opportunity here from a favorable draw. No. 5 Grand Nova turned his form around last start and should be able to take another step forward this week. No. 10 Parents’ Love has potential and is worth including.

Race 4: Kwai Fong Handicap (1st Section)

No. 11 My Intelligent is remarkably consistent. He’s deserving of another win and the light weight affords him that chance. Keith Yeung knows the horse and he shapes as the one they all must reel in. No. 12 Colonel has the early speed to press forward and find the front. He’s another lowly weighted chance, who could take a bit of running down. No. 3 Aurora Lady has done well across two starts in Hong Kong. He clearly has ability and gets a super chance here. No. 7 Sky Prophet is better than his form suggests. He’ll make his presence felt.

Race 5: Min Fat Handicap

No. 6 The Azure caught the eye late last start against strong opposition. He appears suited to the step up in distance and is worth taking a chance on here from the Frankie Lor stable. No. 11 Lucky Banner slots in near the bottom of the handicap. He’s performed well over this course and distance before, albeit a while ago. No. 4 Northern Beast continues to make headway. He appears to still have more development to come and his latest effort when winning was superb. No. 2 Dragon Star can roll forward and take his shot from there. Don’t discount.

Race 6: Shing Ping Handicap

No. 8 Super Hong Kong was very good last start. He can improve with that run under his belt and he comes into this in the right vein of form. One to beat. No. 3 Joy Of Spring was a tidy winner last start. He draws well here and should be threatening this group. No. 1 Intrepid Winner is better suited in Class 4 and he can improve here. He’s proven over this course and distance. No. 5 Forever Glorious has been in superb form all season and he gets another strong chance this week. He’s already won once this campaign.

Race 7: Kwai Fong Handicap (2nd Section)

No. 7 Ragnarr did some of his best work late last start. He comes into this well and can continue to improve. He’ll be a decent price and is worth an each way ticket, especially after his fourth over the course and distance four runs back. No. 1 Flying Wrote is probably going to be favorite or near enough to it. He was impressive with victory last start. No. 3 Gallant Valour gets the services of Hugh Bowman. He’s knocking on the door for another win and the inside draw is favorable. No. 10 Travel Golf is without a win, although he has some capabilities.

Race 8: Cheong Ming Handicap

No. 5 Star Contact is in very good form. He’s won once this season and has placed in his last three runs, each time missing by under a length. He only needs to repeat either one of his most recent efforts to prove highly competitive here. No. 11 Jumbo Legend won well three starts ago and he continues to receive strong support each time he races. He’s in with a chance. No. 2 Zoom Boom is racing well and the inside gate is an advantage. No. 1 Red Hare King is in career-best form. He must overcome top weight and the wide gate.

Race 9: Broom Handicap

No. 4 California Touch continues to raise the bar. He’s seeking back-to-back wins and should be able to cross the field early in a bid for the lead. He’ll take catching this week. No. 2 Watch Buddy is a three-time winner this campaign. He maps to get a sweet run throughout from the draw. No. 1 Nordic Dragon has lost his way a touch, although the class is still there. He’s currently racing off a dangerous mark. No. 6 Lucky Archangel returned to form last start. He’s another who should be able to take his chance by racing on the speed.

Declan Schuster grew up loving the sport and doing the form after Pierro won the 2012 Golden Slipper. His love for racing in Asia and the puzzle of finding winners took him to Hong Kong, where he is employed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. His favorite racecourse is Happy Valley.

Coverage of the entire Hong Kong Thoroughbred season at Horse Racing Nation is made possible through a sponsorship by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.