| What | Happy Valley Races |
| Where | Happy Valley Racecourse – Wong Nai Chung Rd, Happy Valley, Hong Kong |
| When | Wednesday, April 19, 2023 |
| First Race | 6:45pm HKT (8:45pm AEST) |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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We’re back racing under lights on Wednesday evening with a strong nine-race program presented at Happy Valley Racecourse. We should be racing on Good to Firm going for the meeting; although there is a minor possibility of rain hitting the course, it shouldn’t affect the conditions of the turf overall. The rail is in the C position for the entire card, and that usually favours gallopers producing early speed. The first race is set to get underway at 6:45pm HKT (8:45pm AEST).
Best Bet: Star Contact
Star Contact has had a consistent campaign for trainer David Hayes and finds a great opportunity to score his fourth career win. He relishes the 1650m at Happy Valley and will be looking to improve his rating of 68 on Wednesday night. Zone D proved too good for Star Contact and Meaningful Star on April 6 with the former holding his ground nicely when attacked turning into the home straight. Now, in a small field of eight runners, he should find a relatively easy lead for Zac Purton, who takes the ride after steering him to victory on January 18. This son of Star Turn hasn’t missed the frame since that win, and with a lack of tempo in this race Purton can adopt the tactics to either lead, or get on the back of whatever elects to cross him to the rail. Once he finds a spot and manages the race from there, Star Contact should prove best of these.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#4 Star Contact (1)
4yo Gelding | T: David Hayes | J: Zac Purton (56kg)
Bet with Palmerbet
Next Best: June Planet
June Planet is well overdue some luck and should finally be breaking his maiden status on Wednesday night. His two performances at Sha Tin over the 1200m and 1400m respectively have seen this son of Not A Single Doubt screaming home down the middle of the track but running out of time. It seems to take him an eternity to wind up, but a much more positive gate and getting back to the city circuit should do the trick for this lightly raced four-year-old. Hugh Bowman will look to utilize barrier five for a mid-field sit turning for home, and with some genuine tempo horses engaged June Planet should be at his electrifying best to score a much-deserved win for the Caspar Fownes yard.
Next Best
Race 6 – 
#4 June Planet (5)
4yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: Hugh Bowman (58kg)
Bet with Unibet
Next Best Again: Magniac
We tipped Magniac as a best bet last Wednesday night at this course and distance, running into the minor money. He’s on the one-week backup and finished less than a half-length away from the ever-consistent Xponential on that occasion, and we believe this is a smart decision by the Jamie Richards yard to step him out again. All four of his Hong Kong efforts have warranted plenty of respect, impressing against the likes of Beauty Eternal and Supreme Lucky without finding the winner’s enclosure. While this race isn’t much easier, the decision of Zac Purton to maintain the ride on this gelding by Lucky Street gives us a stack of confidence that even he believes this guy isn’t far away from a win. Purton has plenty of options from barrier four and can lead if they want to head up the rail. If he crosses soft enough, Magniac will look the winner a long way out.
Next Best Again
Race 7 – 
#7 Magniac (4)
3yo Gelding | T: Jamie Richards | J: Zac Purton (56kg)
Bet with Ladbrokes
Best Value: Telecom Cheetah
Telecom Cheetah is another horse we tipped 14 days ago, and he didn’t disappoint at a big quote with the top online bookmakers. He started as a $29 chance on April 6 and showed plenty of tenacity from the back of the field when first-up from a long spell. He drew gate eight and got too far back to make a genuine impression on the eventual winner, going down by 2.5 lengths. It was an eye-catching return, though, and in a race where we feel Telecom Cheetah may go under the radar of a few punters, we’re keen to give him another chance. Alexis Badel hops aboard from a much more suitable barrier and should utilize the gate to be better than mid-field this time, and if he is, Telecom Cheetah should give us another bold sight at a big price.
Best Value
Race 8 – 
#7 Telecom Cheetah (3)
6yo Gelding | T: Dennis Yip | J: Alexis Badel (56kg)
Bet with Bet365
Wednesday quaddie tips for Happy Valley races
Happy Valley quadrella selections
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
- 1-4-10
- 1-3-4-7
- 1-2-6-7
- 1-2-3-5-7
Investment: $240 for 100%
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