JACKIE C.K. Tse can make a winning return to the fray by taking tonight's opening event on Always Early (Nap) on a decidedly mundane equitrack card at Happy Valley.
Always Early is blessed with that vital attribute for racing on the dirt - natural speed - especially when competing over the minimum sprint distance of 1,030 metres.
Given his pace he should be able to get to the front in tonight's opener and make all the running under Tse who is returning from a three-meeting ban.
Always Early put up a brave effort last time when trying to adopt similar catch-me-if-you-can tactics only to find the speedy Turf Champ a thorn in his side.
Turf Champ managed to get to the front and Always Early was fighting a losing battle but still finished a respectable 3/4 lengths second.
Shanghai Star is fast from the gates when he's right, but his form of late has been decidedly modest and he put in his worst effort of the season last time out when a long behind Speedstar in an uncompetitive dash down the straight 1,000-metre course.