Andrea Atzeni will aim to score a breakthrough win with Lucky Year in Wednesday’s Class Four Eight To Glory (1,650m) at Happy Valley.

The Eight To Glory is a one-of-a-kind race where eight runners will line-up wearing the colours of the quarter-final teams in the Fifa World Cup.

Atzeni will look to hit the back of the net with Dennis Yip Chor-hong’s consistent U S Navy Flag galloper, who he rode to third place last start behind Flying Knight. While it will be the four-year-old’s first start at Happy Valley, he will have the benefit of barrier two.

“He’s a good ride, first time at the Valley, he’s been very consistent. He ran very well the last day, he’s run pretty much well all season without winning. I look forward to getting back on him,” Atzeni said.

“It would be nice if he can win a race before the season ends because he’s been knocking on the door and running well without winning. He deserves to win one now.”

Atzeni is hoping Aerodynamics can bounce back in the Class Two Hat Trick Handicap (1,800m) after a lacklustre performance last start. The Mark Newnham-trained four-year-old had been running consistently up until then, and will seek his second win when jumping from barrier one at his first Happy Valley start.

“I don’t know what happened the last day, he’s looked like he never really picked up and Zac [Purton] looked after him, but he seemed fine. Mark says he’s fine and obviously we trialled and he seemed to be moving good, so fingers crossed,” Atzeni said.

“I rode him early on in the season when he was second in a mile handicap, where he ran very well. I’ve not ridden him since and Zac’s has won on him.

“First time at the Valley, which I don’t think will be an issue – he’s quite a neat horse, he’s got a bit of speed, he’s got a good gate.

“Liveandletlive is a natural front runner, so he’ll probably lead. We’ve got a good gate, Aerodynamics should be in the first two, so if something happens to Liveandletlive we can go and make our own pace. But if something goes, I’m sure he could take a sit.”

Atzeni has been aboard for two of Jubilant Winner’s four victories this season, and will look to make it a third in the Class Three Penalty Shootout Handicap (1,200m) for Jamie Richards.

“He’s done very well – better than expected. He won twice at Class Four with me early on in the season, and then he sort of ran OK a couple of times, and then he went up to Class Three. He’s won twice now, at the Valley too,” Atzeni said.

“He’s been quite consistent all the way through and he’s got a good gate. With Honest Witness and Power Koepp, there’s quite a bit of speed in the race so hopefully we should be able to just jump, go forward and get a good position behind the speed.

“He trialled nicely the other day – he always trials without blinkers on and he just goes through the motions, just does a normal trial – then once he gets his blinkers back on, he comes alive.”

David Hall’s Zouper Fellow will seek a second career victory in the Class Four Volley Handicap (1,000m) when he jumps from barrier two in a race that is set up with plenty of speed.

“He won over 1,000m down the Sha Tin straight carrying a light weight but hasn’t really repeated that since. I don’t think the Valley will be an issue because he’s a quite speedy horse and he’s got a good gate, so hopefully if he can get a good trip around he can run well,” Atzeni said.

“He beat Almighty Lightning, which I won on in Class Three the other day, so he’s got ability. He’s coming back to Happy Valley over 1,000m – I think that’s his gig. With a good gate, hopefully he’ll be able to go forward and put himself in a good spot and run well.”

Ace Power will drop back in distance for Newnham in the second section of the Class Four Goal Handicap (1,200m), where he is a three-time winner at the track and trip.

“He’s a funny horse. He’s a very hard horse to judge because he’s got ability, but he doesn’t really help you during the race. He’s won over 1,200m at the Valley and he ran well a couple of times on the all-weather. If things fall right for him he could run well,” Atzeni said.

Country Dancer has found form at the back end of the season and will look to maintain it from a challenging barrier 10 in the Class Five Kick Off Handicap (1,000m).

“He won at Sha Tin when Ethan [Brown] rode and had a perfect trip on the fence and won quite nicely. I rode him the other day, obviously carrying a bigger weight and he actually ran well – finished third, running a nice race, and it was a good form race,” Atzeni said.

“From that gate he’s going to go back – he’s not a horse you can press on, he’s a horse you have to sort of ride him quiet and ride him to come home. He’s won at the Valley too, so the track is not an issue.”

The Lion King caps Atzeni’s book of rides in the Class Four Free Kick Handicap (1,650m).