Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Sha Tin on 8 January 2023.
VALUE BET – DRAGON’S LUCK (Race 11) ridden by L. Hewitson
BEST BET – SWEET ENCOUNTER (Race 8) ridden by Z. Purton
6:30 – Race 1 | Class 5 – 1650m | All Weather
Selections: 6/14/12
LONDON LUCKYSTAR is in a rich vein of form. He was beaten a couple of lengths on the turf course last time and will just have to overcome the wide draw to have a say. SPEED FORCE was beaten just over a length by RUN DES RUN last time. He is 1.5kgs better off at the weights and must also be considered in this opening contest.
7:00 – Race 2 | Class 4 – 1800m
Selections: 1/4/14
The South African bred SMILING TIME has been racing well with Ferraris in the irons. He has been narrowly-beaten in his last two attempts and can get back to winning ways. NICHOLSON RETURNS placed behind Cheery over a mile last time. Bowman takes the ride, and he should give another good account of himself.
7:30 – Race 3 | Class 1 – 1650m | All Weather
Selections: 7/3/9
The grey CHANCHENG PRINCE was beaten just over a length by HANDSOME TWELVE on this surface last time. He is 3.5kgs better off at the weights and can turn the tables on his recent conqueror. SAVAQUIN is much better than his last start. He has cracked pole, shoulders a handy galloping weight and can return to best form.
8:00 – Race 4 | Class 4 – 1200m
Selections: 5/9/11
UNITED WE STAND produced a fair last run when beaten 4.5 lengths by the progressive Howdeepisyourlove. He is a likely pacesetter in this line-up and may be difficult to peg back at the wire. MIGHTY VALOR was beaten just under two lengths by subsequent winner Faribault last time and could be one to fill the exacta spot.
8:30 – Race 5 | Class 4 – 1400m
Selections: 3/4/1
GOLDEN BULL has placed in all three attempts on this course and a win is on the horizon. He meets the right field and should appreciate the extra furlong on offer. CHING was a beaten favourite last time behind Super Red Dragon. He should be cherry-ripe having his third run after a rest and will have plenty of followers.
9:00 – Race 6 | Class 4 – 1650m | All Weather
Selections: 2/8/12
RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE has won his last two starts on this course and is racing well for Brazilian ace De Sousa. He is 1kg worse off at the weights with SKYEY SUPREME on his last start but that may not be enough to stop him from reeling off a hat-trick. NICE BIRDIE produced a fair debut when beaten just over three lengths by Youthful Deal. He should come on nicely with that run under the belt and could be one to cause an upset.
9:35 – Race 7 | Class 3 | 1800m
Selections: 11/8/1
HIT THE SHOT has placed in a Group 1 and brings decent form lines into this contest. The only concern is that he will have to jump from a wide barrier position. NIMBLE NIMBUS produced a fair last run at Happy Valley when 1.5 lengths behind Winning Dragon. He tries this distance for the first-time and may enjoy the extra 150m on offer.
10:05 – Race 8 | Class 3 |1600m
Selections: 1/9/7
SWEET ENCOUNTER won his last start with authority and is unbeaten under Purton. He is a talent on the rise and should take a power of beating from his neat draw. GALLANT WAKING is likely to settle off the pace from a wide draw. He has attractive form lines to his credit and should be doing his best work in the closing stages. MAJESTIC COLOUR placed in his Hong Kong debut performance and is loaded with ability.
10:35 – Race 9 | Group 3 | 1000m
Selections: 4/11/3
COURIER WONDER showed signs of returning to best form in a Group 1 last time and the booking of Purton to ride suggests he is fit enough to win now. NERVOUS WITNESS has a good record on this course despite not living up to his full potential last season. He should relish the drop back to 1000m and can make his presence felt.
11:10 – Race 10 | Class 3 | 1400m
Selections: 5/9/2
NORDIC DRAGON has won both starts impressively. He should relish the extra furlong on offer and can keep his unbeaten record intact. STUNNING IMPACT runs well for De Sousa and followed up his recent win with a positive effort behind Massive Action. He drops back to a more suitable trip and can give the top selection a good run for his money.
11:45 – Race 11 | Class 3 | 1200m
Selections: 5/6/7
DRAGON’S LUCK was given a peach of a ride to defeat DECISIVE TWELVE last time and despite being 2.5kgs worse off at the weights definitely represents decent each-way value for Hong Kong racing pundits in the lucky last. MIGHTY STRIDE has won both career starts over this C&D is another horse who will be looking to remain unbeaten.
