Brett Prebble is one of the form jockeys at the moment and he looks a man to rely on for Triple Trio punters at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
There are no jackpots but there is still a dividend to play for and Prebble opens the Triple Trio with Jumbo Spirit for Caspar Fownes and drawn nicely in gate two. All season, Jumbo Spirit has looked a slow-learning type who will continue to get better with experience and returns to the 1,650m where he won earlier in the season from a low draw.
His latest brought a solid second to Ambassadorship over 1,800m at Sha Tin, without excuses, but just finding the more seasoned horse a touch strong at the line.
In an open event, there are several front runners and Prebble should be able to tuck Jumbo Spirit in behind them and be strong at the finish. Zac Purton looks to have the main danger in Best Hope for Dennis Yip Chor-hong who comes off two minor placings over the course and is also drawn to follow the pace.
TT players will want to include Gold Dragon (Douglas Whyte), who would have ranked higher, but for an awkward draw, Riyadh (Matthew Chadwick) returning to his preferred distance and consistent Twin Turbo (Vincent Ho Chak-yiu), Go Go Win (Olivier Doleuze)and Gold Talent (Alex Lai Hoi-wing).
In the second leg, run-ons might have more of a job and Prebble can take advantage of a lack of leaders on Happy Bao Bei as he did winning last start by a margin on the gelding.
It is difficult to see who will take him on for the lead and sets up for a repeat performance even though Happy Bao Bei rises six pounds in the weights.
He looks a banker and punters will want to spread the net wide for the minor placings including Mr Ginger, getting a Visor and Purton, consistent Bright Star (Doleuze), improver Joy Luck Win (Keith Yeung Ming-lun), poorly drawn Pakistan Baby (Whyte) and also Imperial Rome (Lai), an interesting proposition back in Class Three for the first time in a long while.
Prebble has place claims on Excel Oneself in the final leg, but the one all players should focus on is Golden Chopsticks, from the Almond Lee yard.
The grey has been in fantastic form all season and admirable in defeat in Class Four, just missing out in close finishes several times under big weights. He drops to 116 pounds with the class rise and has plenty of speed to let him settle then hit the line under Lai.
Purton's ride might even make a double banker play, Both Sure, with blinkers going back on and, crucially, a much better draw than lately - Both Sure shouldn't be as far back tonight as he has been.
For the placings, include Hella Hedge (Ho), Let Me Do (Ben So Tik-hung) and Peace N Prosperity (Gerald Mosse) and John Moore-trained Apache Spirit (Nash Rawiller) looks an improver from gate one.
