| What | January Cup Night |
| Where | Happy Valley Racecourse – Wong Nai Chung Rd, Happy Valley, Hong Kong |
| When | Wednesday, January 8, 2025 |
| First Race | 6:40pm HKT (9:40pm AEDT) |
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Visit Dabble |
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Hong Kong racing returns to the bright lights of Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday evening, with the Group 3 January Cup (1800m) headlining a bumper nine-race program. The rail is in the A course the entire circuit, and with pristine conditions forecast leading into race-day, punters can expect a genuine Good 4 surface. All the action is scheduled to get underway at 6:40pm HKT.
January Cup Tip: Happy Together
Happy Together returns to defend his crown in the 2025 January Cup after proving victorious in this event 12 months ago. He has only improved since that win, testing himself against the best Hong Kong has to offer, including an outstanding performance in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on December 8. He’s never missed the frame in his three starts at Happy Valley, and although he must lug 61kg to victory, Happy Together oozes class amongst this lot and should take a power of beating in the January Cup.
January Cup
Race 7 – 
#1 Happy Together (10)
6yo Gelding | T: Frankie Lor | J: Alexis Badel (61kg)
Bet with Neds
Best Bet at Happy Valley: Spirit Of Peace
Spirit Of Peace showed plenty of tenacity debuting at Sha Tin on December 22 despite travelling wide throughout the journey. The son of Harry Angel was caught three deep with cover and never shirked the task in the concluding stages, hanging in to get within a length of Super Legends. That horse has won again since franking the form-lines, and with Zac Purton being legged aboard Spirt Of Peace as he heads to Happy Valley for the first time, expect this guy to figure in the finish once again.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#8 Spirit Of Peace (6)
4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (58kg)
Bet with BlondeBet
Next Best at Happy Valley: Sunstrider
The David Hall-trained Sunstrider has been consistent without winning in his eight Hong Kong starts and finally gets the ideal setup for success. The son of Highland Reel hit the line well behind race rival Californiatotality at Sha Tin on December 8, and although he was well held by 2.3 lengths, Sunstrider will be aided by a 4kg swing in the weights this time around. Karis Teetan will look to stalk his rivals from the one-one disengaging from gate five, and provided he can sit handy turning for home, this guy can turn the tables at a good price with Picklebet.
Next Best
Race 9 – 
#9 Sunstrider (5)
5yo Gelding | T: David Hall | J: Karis Teetan (53.5kg)
Bet with Picklebet
Best Value at Happy Valley: Mighty Commander
Mighty Commander ran into a smart one in the form of Packing Angel at Sha Tin on December 8 and simply didn’t accelerate like he did two starts back at Happy Valley. He was excellent behind Beauty Destiny over 1200m prior to his Sha Tin failure, hitting the line well to suggest a step-up to the 1650m would be ideal for the son of Artie Schiller. Expect a cold steer by Hugh Bowman from gate seven, but provided they go quick enough, watch for Mighty Commander to be putting in the big strides late at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers.
Best Value
Race 3 – 
#2 Mighty Commander (7)
4yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: Hugh Bowman (59kg)
Bet with Dabble
Wednesday quaddie tips for Happy Valley
Happy Valley quadrella selections
January 8, 2025
- 1-3-7-10-11
- 1-9-10
- 1-2-3-4-7-8
- 4-6-9-10
Horse racing tips