Hugh Bowman is looking to take advantage of some good opportunities when he pairs up with the likes of Young Champion, Endeared and Peridot on Saturday’s Sha Tin card.

The Australian jockey has been back among the winners of late, riding four at the last three meetings – including a double on Wednesday – to reclaim second in the jockeys’ premiership from Andrea Atzeni.

He will be looking to drive home that small advantage over the Sardinian this weekend with a strong book, headlined by Young Champion in the feature Class Two Li Cup (1,200m).

The Zoustar galloper won under Atzeni four starts ago over track and distance and has been racing well since, finishing second under Bowman on two of his next three starts.

Most recently, a wide draw in stall 12 meant he was forced to come from a mile back to finish a close-up sixth, and the field of just seven runners on Saturday could be an advantage for the John Size-trained galloper.

“He’s been racing well, I think he’s aided by a small field on Saturday which will suit his style – he’s in good form,” Bowman said.

“You can’t inject him into the speed anyway because he might not finish, so sometimes with horses with this sort of pattern, particularly with a smaller field, it forces your hand to just take your medicine early.

“Being a smaller field, he’s not going to be too far off the leading pack, so hopefully he can reel them in.”

Bowman teams up with Size for three other chances, including the consistent Endeared in the Class Three Lee Trophy (1,400m).

The six-year-old has been a tricky horse to win with, landing just four of his 44 local starts, but he has finished in the top three on a further 10 occasions and is often a hard horse to keep out of the frame.

Drawing stall seven will give Bowman plenty of options as he looks to ride a winner for an owner he has enjoyed plenty of support from.

“He is a very consistent horse, and hopefully we can get the job done on him as well. [Owner] Ben Wong has been a great supporter of mine, and it’s always nice to wear his colours,” Bowman said.

Bowman will also ride Noble Deluxe for Size in the Class Five Wong Cup (1,200m) on dirt, with Sight Dreamer in the Class Four Chow Silver Plate (1,200m) rounding off his mounts for the 13-time champion trainer.

The 45-year-old is also looking forward to the chances of Peridot, who bids for a maiden win in the Class Five Swaine Cup (1,200m) for trainer David Hall.

The race represents a drop in grade for the son of Ribchester, who ran third under Bowman on his debut and sole run last season, before finishing in the top five in six of his 10 runs this term.

The four-year-old has not been the easiest of rides this campaign and has his quirks, but Bowman is looking for the easier competition to spark him into life despite a tricky draw in stall 12.

“He’s certainly got the natural talent of winning in the middle of Class Four actually, but he’s just a bit of a tricky horse,” Bowman said.

“He’s not the most confident horse and you’ve got to ride in a certain way to get him to run to his best, which means that he’s often giving away a fair bit of ground, because he’s a little bit insecure – he doesn’t really like getting in tight runs.

“Although he’s a little bit peculiar to ride, he does have the natural talent. He’s drawn a bit awkwardly, but taking on Class Five opposition for the first time, he’s very well placed.”

Bowman’s day is rounded off by Sunday’s Serenade in the Class Four Arculli Trophy (1,400m) and Natural High in the Class Four Chan Trophy (1,200m) on dirt.

“Sunday’s Serenade is in good order. He ran well after a long break last time and he should improve on that this week,” Bowman said. “A better draw in stall five opposed to 11 helps on this run too.”