Hugh Bowman partners up with a pair of DBS x Manulife Million Challenge hopefuls at Happy Valley on Wednesday night and could be set for a big evening himself with a plethora of chances.

The Million Challenge, which began on September 10, has been open to horses at Class Three level and above, with the winner taking home HK$1 million in prize money.

The winner of each eligible race receives 15 points, while second nets six, third gets four and fourth secures three. That means the current leader Regal Gem – who sits on 42 points at the top of the standings – cannot be caught if he wins the Class Two Blue Pool Handicap (1,200m).

That may not be an easy task, however, as joint-second place Storm Rider, who arrives at the peak of his powers, looks to give his trainer David Hayes a third consecutive win in the lucrative series.

A win for the Dracarys galloper, who sits on 36 points alongside King Miles, would also secure him victory, and winning is something that has come very easily for him in recent starts.

He arrives on a hat-trick bid, posting a career-best effort two starts ago to win the Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin before running riot to beat Regal Gem by a length in the Class Two Cannes Handicap over course and distance last month.

That victory put him in range of the series leader and with that rival drawn out in stall 12, his jockey Hugh Bowman is keen to take advantage of that.

“He goes into this race with another favourable draw [two], which is a big help now that his rating is getting up. The opposition is strong, of course; it’s an important race for him. If we can win, then he’ll win the Challenge,” Bowman told the Jockey Club.

“Regal Gem was notably a bit unlucky in the race (on January 14). I think with even luck he is certainly the main danger, but again, unfortunately for them, they’ve drawn not so well out wide.”

Bowman will also partner up with the in-form Helene Feeling, who is another with a chance of lifting the Million Challenge with victory in the Class Two Shan Kwong Handicap (1,650m).

Danny Shum Chap-shing’s six-year-old has won two of his last three starts, picking up wins over 1,800m and 1,650m respectively before having a tricky run in transit to finish third in the Group Three January Cup (1,800m) last month.

Helene Feeling should enjoy a smooth passage this time with a kinder draw in stall two and Bowman has given him a glowing report as he looks to leap to the top of the board from his current fifth-place berth on 32.5 points.

“He’s been an absolute pleasure to ride this preparation. I’ve ridden him in trackwork since, and the horse is in very good shape,” Bowman told the Jockey Club.

“What he does get this time is a really good barrier [two]. Last time he was drawn awkwardly, and that didn’t help him.”

Hayes’ Romantic Son (30 points) and David Eustace’s Silvery Breeze (27 points) are the two other horses in contention for winning the series.