NIGEL Tiley can continue his end-of-career winning fling at Happy Valley tomorrow night when he partners old favourite Active Bobo in the second leg of the Double Trio. English-born Tiley rode a perfect race to land the money on Filipachi in the final event at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Tiley, who will pack his bags for his New Zealand home and a new career in training, is the regular pilot of Active Bobo.
The nine-year-old is giving away a lot of years to a couple of useful rivals but the gelding has always been a grand competitor in the right races and the longer sprint at Happy Valley has been a speciality over the past few seasons.
The biggest threat and a logical DT leg is the Declan Murphy-ridden Precious Delights, a runaway winner on the equitrack last time. Excellent last start griffin winner Mighty Mighty, from the powerful Ivan Allan stable, steps out in open company and should run a big race for Basil Marcus. But there are inherent risks in backing relatively untried youngsters at Happy Valley in night meetings where the lights, crowds and tight track can all combine to undo them.
Trainer David Oughton's Sir Valid ran a fair third over 1,200 metres last time and could go well enough here for John Marshall while there will be support, too, for Hung Hing. Tony Cruz, whose stranglehold on the title a mere month ago has been loosened every so slightly by Marcus, will be looking to topweight Saint Dragon Hill for a welcome winner in the fourth event.
The Lam Hung-fai galloper has what it takes to win this mundane Class Five affair over 1,800 metres, going on an incredible win early this season at this venue.