Chadwick has quality to dominate Challenge
Matthew Chadwick has pulled his form together again in the past week and he should continue his fine run tonight at Happy Valley.
A treble last Wednesday and the win aboard Bullish Gold - that brought him a two-day suspension last Sunday - have Chadwick back on track, and oddsmakers found him an obvious favourite for the honours this time.
Chadwick will go for an enforced holiday after this Sunday's Sha Tin meeting.
He was posted the 2.8 favourite ahead of Douglas Whyte (4.0), with Brett Prebble finding himself in the unaccustomed position of third favourite at 6.5 after bringing home the last four Challenges.
Chadwick is vulnerable early in the card with Golden Bauhinia (race one), Bold Champion (race two) and Single Malt (race three), but his last four mounts all have strong prospects for his assigned trainer, Tony Cruz, and if Chadwick has points on the board by then, it looks all over.
Cristal Magnum (race four) is the most interesting of them after three good sprint runs. He steps up to 1,650m, a distance that looks more suitable for the subscription griffin from a kind draw.
Norman Invader (race five) looked a much better proposition in a trial on November 6 wearing blinkers and he carries them for the first time for tonight's feature, while Hannah King Prawn was beaten at odds-on last time out, but lost no admirers and he will be the one to beat again in the final event.
