He was an odds-on flop last time but Outstanding Lad can redeem himself at Sha Tin today when tackling a modest Class Four field in the eighth event on the card.
The Bruce Hutchison stable is in a fine seam of winning form and Outstanding Lad can add to the growing tally as he looks, on what has been seen of him in races and trials to date, capable of winning in better company than this.
Trainer Hutchison and jockey Steven King were a bit non-plussed after his last-start failure with one tentative reason offered being the fact that the horse was backing up fairly quickly after a quality debut second behind above-average City Warrior.
Outstanding Lad also legged it to the front last time before finding nothing in the closing stages.
If King can angle him over from his outside barrier and still have him racing off the pace, it may be better tactics for Outstanding Lad.
Since his last run, Outstanding Lad trialled really well at Happy Valley where he suffered interference and King almost came to grief.