DT fans can look to Kinane for a lift

IRISH champion jockey Mick Kinane returned from a three-day suspension with a Wednesday night winner and he could hold the key to punters' hopes in tomorrow's Double Trio races at Sha Tin.

David Oughton's stable, badly hit by the virus rampant in Hongkong racing late last year, has had four winners in a week and could be worth following in the final stages of the campaign.

Kinane is due to return to Ireland after the international races and will be keen to bow out on a successful note.

English import Sir Valid has run promisingly on his last two outings down the straight 1,000 metres and now steps up to the longer Sha Tin sprint where he is blinkered for the first time. He finished strongly on the rail last time to be a closing second to short course specialist Eastern Saga and looked as if the step up in distance would suit.

Sir Valid looks a good banker bet as he should run in the first three but New Zealander Nigel Tiley will take plenty of beating on Global Star, also blinkered for the first time.

This looks a logical move following his antics when first produced in Hongkong on January 25. He appeared to race greenly and drifted out very noticeably in the closing stages of the race won by big-priced Golden Luck.

That was over today's trip and Global King finished on three-parts of a length from the winner having been right up there for most of the trip.

The topweight Phantasy Way, who reopposes tomorrow, may have it all to do to confirm form with Global King on the run behind Golden Luck. Phantasy Way was touched off by a head leaving Global King less than a length behind him and he is now four pounds worse off against a horse who is likely to have benefited from the run.

Flying Captain should also have derived benefit from his first run and is worth including along with Jewellery Star who pulled up lame after his first start but could reach the frame here despite an outside draw.

Kinane rides Lucky Swallow in the first leg of the DT and this fellow is also back to form. He ran most encouragingly last time for second over 1,400 metres but could muster enough pace to be a threat over the shorter 1,200-metre trip.

As he is required, for DT purposes, only to finish in the first three this is certainly not beyond him on his best form. His defeat last time was by Splendid Chance and he had the useful Aashiq behind him.

Lucky Swallow has never been a sound horse but seems to be intact at the moment and on his recent form is certainly a worthy consideration in a tough full field of Class Three performers.

Electric Power, who has been disappointing, has the blinkers fitted in an effort to concentrate his efforts.

He looked to be travelling like a winner for Declan Murphy last time at Happy Valley but found nothing off the bridle. But the added equipment, the return to Sha Tin and the 1,200 metres should all help provide a forward showing for champion-elect, Tony Cruz.

Topweight Red Star has been effective over longer but resumes after a break and could go well for John Marshall, who landed a chance winner on Wednesday for Lawrie Fownes.

He has successfully partnered Red Star in the past and, despite the 139 pounds, could be thereabouts in an interesting tussle.

Ever The Best, as expected in some quarters, came back to his real form last time with a solid winning effort and is not out of this while Manor Lord is an interesting debutant.