Narrow verdict for Excel Kid
There's plenty riding on the Triple Trio tonight and if you make it to the third leg it is still not going to be easy to snare the money.
The featured Tung Wah Centenary Cup on the turf over 1,800 metres is the final leg of the exotic wager and it would be possible to make a case for half a dozen in the full field of 14 - and still miss out.
Among the logical choices are High Spirits, but he's up a class, Temmoku, who is back in distance and New Asians, who failed last time without any real excuses.
It would be possible to throw in Team Honour, Don Sebastian and improving River Dance so, all in all, this is a very competitive event.
Go back three runs and the Robbie Fradd-ridden Excel Kid won, course and distance for John Moore, before not quite getting there over 2,000 metres at Sha Tin and 1,800 metres at the Valley.
And it's only now that we put in Fortune Dancer, to be ridden by Basil Marcus, for the in-form trainer Gary Ng Ting-keung. He did well last time out over 1,600 metres for Douglas Whyte, who has defected to High Spirits and answered the call of former retaining trainer Tony Cruz.
I'm coming down on the side of the apprentice-ridden Excel Kid, who is well drawn, well weighted and in pretty fair form as well.
Excel Kid should be at odds but it will be no surprise if half a dozen of them hit the line together.
Excel Kid has been given a breather by Moore since his last run when he began awkwardly and was inclined to race ungenerously for David Harrison over tonight's trip at the Valley.
There can be little doubt that Sha Tin suits Excel Kid better than the city track and with his mini-break and switch of track, he can be involved.
Philip C. T. Cheng enjoys the confidence of Moore and has done the Australian trainer proud with a couple of good wins.
New Asians is stepping into unknown territory but is bred to get a trip and it should not pose a major problem.
High Spirits is certainly in form but this is now Classes One and Two and a major test of his ability. He has Whyte on top and is from a stable bang in form.
River Dance is definitely worth including in the Tierce and Triple Trio. He has worked well recently and the engagement of Fradd is seen as a pointer to his chances.
The South African has the happy knack of getting on horses when they are just about ready to do something and this is a fortunate ride because regular pilot Eric Legrix is aboard Zinedine, which does not appear to have much chance.
Team Honour is coming back in trip and may have it to do while Hornet has never been a real threat over this distance in the past.
A difficult event but Excel Kid may just be the answer.
