Yesterday’s Review
0.5pt e/way Maw Lam (101) – A dominant display from the winner Duty First (108) who appreciated the return to a sounder surface, but looked like she caught a lot of her opponents on a bad day. The selection raced from the rear as she normally does, and had to be switched to get a clear run over a furlong from home. She missed out on the places by a half length coming home in fifth place. A positive enough start for connections, but a shade less than what was needed for our wager.
0.5pt e/way I Bid You Ajou (98) – A decent enough seasonal start from this four-year-old who managed to finish in fourth place, but will need to up his game going forward if he is to break his maiden tag. There looked to be plenty of early pace on with Verhoyen (84) employing his usual tactics, with the selection and Showhound (102) pushing on over two furlongs from home after Billy Lee’s mount weakened. The winner Neo Smart (103) returned to his previous best form from early last season. Result 4th 13/2, 6/1 adv…7/1 SP.
Today’s Advice
DIVANO (7f Class 1 Hcap) – The front two at the head of the market for this morning’s (9.10) Sha Tin are on a bit of a recovery mission having both not fired last time out. The favourite Patch Of Theta could be allowed his most recent run over course and distance as it was in a Group 1 against the imperious Ka Ying Rising, but he does carry twelve pounds more in the weights than when finishing nicely ahead of Drombeg Banner back in January, and his price is a lot tighter than I would like it to be. The second favourite Rubylot was also a shade disappointing last time out in The Hong Kong Derby when failing to finish ahead of a lot of rivals he had previously beaten very easily. The selection’s form with My Wish from January ties in well with the second favourite having just failed by a neck to beat that rival in the Hong Kong Classic Mile from a wide draw. He recorded a career best (113) speed figure last time out when just getting caught near the finish by Packing Hermod over course and distance having led over a furlong out. He has been improving nicely over the course of the season, and looks a decent price to take on the front two in the market with. Although four pounds out of the handicap most of that is offset by three pound apprentice Angus Chung who rode four winners last month, and we will be hoping for a clear run through from a decent draw in stall three.
1pt e/way Divano (4/1 General) 9.10 Sha Tin