AN intriguing battle looms in the first leg of the Double Trio on the Happy Valley equitrack tomorrow night where impressive Tim's Joy tackles Local Colour, a past master at scoring on the tricky surface. Champion jockey Basil Marcus is on Tim's Joy, who could not have been more impressive when finishing third to Blazing Blade recently, while brilliant Australian rider Darren Beadman takes out Local Colour. Although there are 10 runners involved, it looks very much a two-horse battle, although others involved do have solid equitrack form. These are good early days for Beadman and trainer Neville Begg. They scored decisively with the brilliant Winning Partners on Sunday and were on target at this venue last week with speedster Shanghai Star. But it may be that Tim's Joy, with the never-say-die Marcus up, could just have the edge - not least because of that excellent first-up run. Tim's Joy was at big odds but came home strongly along the rails and looked a real threat until well-graded Blazing Blade stormed through in the centre. As a lead-up race to a Class Three mile event on the synthetic surface, however, it was absolutely ideal and the topweight, who is a Class Two horse, is nominated as the banker for the first leg. Local Colour must go well and could win without anyone blinking an eyelid but after that choices for the DT leg are harder to come by. Speed Way has exceptional form on the surface but there is a nagging doubt as to whether he has actually been working as well as before previous successes. Glory Of Pakistan is worth consideration along with Perfect Timing, who has been going fairly. Colours Hero ran a pleasing trial recently and could give an account of himself for claimer Victor C.F. Chan. There is not much depth to the second leg of the DT, a Class Five contest over 1,400 metres where Hammerhead is a less than emphatic choice for banker. Trainer Wong Tang-ping struck with a double on Sunday and the stable has had a useful start to the new campaign. He has Hammerhead well forward and, with Tony Cruz up, there is guaranteed to be plenty of support. In this essentially modest eight-runner contest, the coupling should safely find a place in the first three. Last start winner Money And Fame has fair form on this surface and won so extravagantly that he must be considered a chance again. Marcus takes over on the Cheung Ting-pong galloper from Johnny K.S. Ho. They have the inside barrier and should go well. Love Of Freedom, trained by Brian Kan Ping-chee, has been going fairly and has claims along with Lucky Pal and Little Big Horn. The former could be at reasonable odds but is not out of this race and Jeff Lloyd, who won so tidily on Royal Horse on Sunday, could make the frame at attractive odds. Little Big Horn has a decided preference for this surface and, on his best form, would be right there.