Hong Kong Racing: Guyon's Sure Joyful Looks Promising at Happy Valley

Hong Kong Racing Returns to Happy Valley with Competitive Card

Racing in Hong Kong makes its eagerly anticipated return to the iconic Happy Valley racecourse today, featuring a thrilling nine-race programme on the C+3 track configuration. The meeting includes several exciting and highly competitive Class Two contests, promising an afternoon of top-class action for racing enthusiasts. As the season reaches its halfway stage, the intensity is ramping up across the training ranks.

Trainers' Championship Battle Heats Up

Mark Newnham continues to demonstrate remarkable consistency, sending out winners on a regular basis to lead the Trainers' Championship race with an impressive tally of 34 victories. However, the competition is fierce, with several stables closing fast and positioning themselves well within striking distance of the leader. The stables of David Hayes and Francis Lui each collected 10 winners last month, showcasing their formidable form.

Reigning champion John Size has bounced back to form emphatically, securing nine wins in January and adding a further treble at Sha Tin on Sunday. This resurgence underscores the unpredictable nature of the championship race. In contrast, legendary trainer Tony Cruz has endured a challenging period, last visiting the winners' circle exactly a month ago and tasting success only three times from his last 100 runners.

Fownes Seeks Fortunes at Favourite Venue

A run of bad luck has also come at an inopportune time for trainer Caspar Fownes, who currently holds third position in the championship table but has saddled only one winner at the last five meetings. The pendulum of good fortune can swing back in his favour at any moment, particularly with Fownes returning to his favourite venue where he has already saddled 21 winners this season. He will be expecting to bounce back to form with several winning chances at the city track today.

The Fownes-trained four-year-old Forza Toro appears to be a winner waiting to happen, having run well against notable competitors such as the improving Positive Smile, Sunday's Classic Mile winner Little Paradise, and Regal Gem in the past. He lines up in the Yik Yam Handicap (12.35pm) over the extended mile but does face questions, attempting the trip for the first time and having disappointed in his only trial at the track last May.

Key Race Analysis and Selections

The fact that top jockey Zac Purton climbs aboard top-weight Aestheticism for the first time since last April, having won four times on the six-year-old previously, speaks highly of his chance. However, he will need to improve significantly on his recent disappointing form to secure victory.

It may be worth taking a chance with the well-handicapped Sure Joyful, who is four pounds below his last winning mark and caught the eye when never seeing daylight over the course and distance three weeks ago. Having been burdened with double-figure draws in his last three races, he has finally drawn a favourable gate in two and has top jockey Maxime Guyon in the saddle. With a rails-hugging journey likely, he should take plenty of beating when Guyon goes for glory down the home straight.

Earlier on the card, Fatal Blow will never get a better chance of returning to winning form in division two of the Wang Tak Handicap (11.05am) over six furlongs. After a series of awkward draws, the five-year-old has drawn gate three and looks likely to have the run of the race with Hugh Bowman aboard.