Tonight's the night for Lai to make a mark
Oddsmakers posted a more open Jockey Challenge market than usual for tonight's all-weather meeting where the state of the going is always the main issue, but Eddie Lai Wai-ming could represent a value chance to take the honours.
Douglas Whyte was the opening 4.2 favourite with his usual strong book of rides, ahead of Darren Beadman at 5.0 and Sunday's winner Keith Yeung Ming-lun at 6.5. Greg Cheyne (7.0) and Zac Purton (7.5) were also listed under double figures.
But it doesn't stop there on a tough night and punters might find more value in the 15.0 for Lai, who has a good chance of stepping off the mark in the right fashion.
Lai's opening mount, Alive And Kicking, shapes to get the box-seat run behind the speedsters from barrier two and that position is usually an advantage on the dirt.
From there, Lai will follow up with solid chances in Plot Ratio (race three), who won his only dirt start, and will again get the right run on Century Super Star (race five). Lai is aboard one of the night's most interesting runners, Gem Of Chiu Ton, who is having his first run for Tony Cruz in race seven.
Gem Of Chiu Ton's trials this season have indicated he will return to the track in good form and he is a quality galloper, though Lai will have the task of overcoming gate 14.
