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Lai can give top duo a run for their money

Murray Bell

Oddsmakers have rounded up the usual suspects and declared tonight's Jockey Challenge another match race between Douglas Whyte and Brett Prebble, but Alex Lai Hoi-wing waits in the shadows to eclipse them both at a double-figure dividend.

Lai has won 26 races this season, but his success rate at the city venue is 35 per cent higher than at Sha Tin. The two-pound claimer has won 11 races and amassed 40 placings from 152 rides at Happy Valley, for a winning strike rate of 7.2 per cent and a place strike rate of 26.3 per cent.

Lai can bounce the ball on a winning note when he rides veteran Serious Play in the Class Five. Apart from being in the bottom grade, Serious Play needs three things to be a winning chance - Happy Valley, 1,800m and softer ground - and all boxes will be ticked tonight.

Lai can also land the sixth on Unique Speed for Manfred Man Ka-leung. The chestnut is another once-a-year performer but this is his time of the season, when the rain arrives and the tracks begin to soften.

At these midweek meetings, a treble is a moral to land the Jockey Challenge, but more usually two wins and a few placings is enough to nail it.

Lai qualifies nicely in that regard, and looks a value chance to lord it over the high-profile stars at his overnight quote of $10.

The odds compilers reluctantly split Prebble and Whyte by a mere half point, with the Australian holding sway at $3.25 favourite on last night's 7pm call from Whyte at $3.75. Weichong Marwing was third choice at $7.

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