Hong Kong racing from Sha Tin happens overnight Friday into Saturday at 1 a.m. EDT, 10 p.m. PDT. Free PPs are available at Horse Racing Nation. For more free handicapping information, visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

Race 1: 1 Daily Trophy, 3 Smart Leader, 5 High Rise Power, 4 Spangle Fortune

Race 2: 6 Charmander, 5 Harry’s Hero, 8 Casa Legend, 2 Nice Birdie

Race 3: 3 Pochettino, 2 Colourful Winner, 5 Super Legends, 1 Macanese Master

Race 4: 6 Robot Knight, 3 Regent Glory, 11 Jolly Companion, 4 Aca Power

Race 5: 2 Fighting Machine, 7 Mr Energia, 1 Majestic Colour, 8 Champion Method

Race 6: 2 Northern Beast, 8 Forerunner, 5 Amazing Run, 7 Circuit Mighty

Race 7: 1 Bottomuptogether, 2 Rubylot, 9 Super Fortune, 3 Equatorial

Race 8: 4 Everyone’s Classic, 2 Harold Win, 8 Glorious Expert, 6 King Oberon

Race 9: 7 Fortunate Son, 6 Voyage Samurai, 9 Fortune Superstar, 8 Star Mac

Race 10: 3 Prestige Always, 12 Endeared, 2 King Miles, 1 Green N White

Race 1, Ho Pui Handicap

No. 1 Daily Trophy will be more effective second-up, especially with the switch to the all-weather track. The combination of Hugh Bowman and Caspar Fownes, fresh off a treble at Happy Valley, makes them the pair to beat. No. 3 Smart Leader closed strongly into fifth first-up, typical of his style, and he will be finishing hard once again under the urging of Zac Purton. No. 5 High Rise Power had excuses first-up with mucus in the trachea. That was his first start for a new trainer, and given his improved trial leading into the race, he could surprise at a price second-up. No. 4 Spangle Fortune drops into class 5 where he’s best suited, reuniting with winning jockey Derek Leung.

Race 2, Hoi Pa Handicap

No. 6 Charmander broke through stylishly last start and has been racing much better since his transfer to David Hall’s yard. He lines up in another winnable race and is the one to beat. No. 5 Harry’s Hero should benefit from returning to turf. His first-up effort on grass was eye-catching, but he didn’t seem to handle the all-weather last week. No. 8 Casa Legend is hard to catch, but at least boasts a win, which many in this field cannot claim. No. 2 Nice Birdie drops back into class 5 and will benefit from Britney Wong’s 10-pound claim, stepping away from the rail.

Race 3, Sha Tsui Handicap

No. 3 Pochettino drew wide on debut and raced at the rear, but finished strongly into fourth, outperforming market expectations. Coming from the John Size yard, he should progress further with more racing. No. 2 Colourful Winner looks ready to take the next step as he rises in distance after three runs over the minimum trip. He should get a perfect run from gate 2. No. 5 Super Legends returned to some form first-up, running a solid second behind My Wish. No. 1 Macanese Master, a former Macau-trained galloper, makes his debut and looked well in his trial without being tested. One to watch.

Race 4, Tai Ho Handicap

No. 6 Robot Knight worked too hard on the lead after jumping from a wide draw first-up. He should be fitter for this run, and a softer time in transit from post 2 could spark improvement. No. 3 Regent Glory finished a sound third on his return and is always worth a shot in a race like this, especially with Zac Purton in the saddle from the rail. No. 11 Jolly Companion presents an interesting case as he returns to the all-weather under Britney Wong’s 10-pound claim. Although there are other speed influences in the race, post 4 should help his chances. No. 4 Aca Power excels at this course and distance, delivering big late runs, as seen two starts ago when he scored impressively. He will depend on a fast tempo from his wide gate.

Race 5, Tak Wah Handicap

No. 2 Fighting Machine finds himself in a weaker race where he should have every chance to bounce back to winning ways. No. 7 Mr Energia broke through strongly last start on the all-weather and, being only lightly raced, he can follow up on his success. No. 1 Majestic Colour struggled last season but is one to watch as he steps into Class 4 for the first time, while also rising to a more suitable distance second-up. No. 8 Champion Method benefits from having Hugh Bowman aboard, and with a nice draw in post 4, they seem to map ideally.

Race 6, Tak Wah Handicap, division 2

No. 2 Northern Beast resumes in pursuit of a hat-trick of wins after finding career-best form at the end of last season. David Hall has him well prepared for his return with two fitness-building trials, and Hugh Bowman remaining in the saddle instils confidence. No. 8 Forerunner faces another tough draw; he had no luck first-up from post 13, racing wide without cover but finishing a close fourth. A better run in transit could see him challenge. No. 5 Amazing Run made an impressive return first-up, storming home to win comfortably. Whether he can string two wins together remains to be seen, but David Hayes is in good form. No. 7 Circuit Mighty hasn’t tasted victory in a while but has slipped down the ratings, and his first-up run was solid, leading under fast splits.

Race 7, Yan Chai Trophy Handicap

No. 1 Bottomuptogether was one of the standout performers last season, clinching three consecutive victories from as many starts. Trainer Frankie Lor holds high hopes for this four-year-old, and he has found a suitable race for his return. No. 2 Rubylot displayed promise last term, securing three wins. Although he will likely be better suited to longer distances as his campaign progresses, his class will carry him a long way here. No. 9 Super Fortune enters this race off a last-start victory in class 4 and now returns to class 3, where he is expected to lead from the front, as usual. No. 3 Equatorial has been earmarked by trainer Pierre Ng as a horse to watch, aiming for 4-year-old classic aspirations.

Race 8, Sha Tsui Handicap, division 2

No. 4 Everyone’s Classic is poised to make a winning debut for Frankie Lor. Zac Purton is aboard this progressive-looking four-year-old, who has shown above-average ability in his trials and enters a winnable race straight away. No. 2 Harold Win has been knocking on the door for his first victory, having missed out by just a neck first-up; he won’t have any excuses this time around. No. 8 Glorious Expert delivered a solid third in his first-up over about five furlongs. With the advantages of the rail draw, stepping up to about six furlongs, and Britney Wong’s 10-pound claim, he has strong factors in his favor second-up. No. 6 King Oberon has finished second in his last two starts and is getting closer to breaking through for a win.

Race 9, Tsuen Lok Handicap

No. 7 Fortunate Son is on an upward trend, putting the writing on the wall first-up over about seven furlongs with a fast-finishing second to Sunlight Power. He is a 4-year-old classic series aspirant, and this marks the first partnership of Douglas Whyte and Zac Purton this season. No. 6 Voyage Samurai is a nice horse, having won three races from five starts last season; he doesn’t appear finished in the ratings just yet. No. 9 Fortune Superstar caught the eye late in his first local run last season, and connections will hope he advances further this campaign with the 4-year-old classic series in mind. No. 8 Star Mac was too far back in the run first-up but got going late and should make a stronger presence second-up.

Race 10, Yeung Uk Handicap

No. 3 Prestige Always showed improvement last season after three starts, with his best performance on the final day, finishing third to Patch Of Theta despite racing wide throughout. He appears ready to take the next step this preparation following a series of strong trial performances; a solid return will set the stage for a 4-year-old classic series tilt. No. 12 Endeared will relish the rise in distance second-up and draws a gate inside of 10 over about seven furlongs for the first time since July last year. No. 2 King Miles won three of his six races last season and remains a horse on the rise. One to follow. No. 1 Green N White is ultra-consistent, having won three from 10 and finishing runner-up four times.

Luke Middlebrook is a contributor at Idol Horse. After catching the Hong Kong racing bug, Luke spent several years blogging about the sport before relocating to Singapore in 2016. There, he spent eight years as the resident expert at iRace Media, overseeing all form-related and editorial content for horse racing in Hong Kong and Singapore.

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