Hong Kong: Happy Valley Lam Tsuen River H. May 19

Xiang Bai Qi (Photo by Hong Kong Jockey Club)

If you followed Alastair Bull's Hong Kong previews in the past two weeks you are sitting in the profitable green!

Last week’s suggested bets of $18 on the Grass Island Handicap produced a return of $77 when Carroll Street led home a trifecta with Winner Method second and Resolute third.

The suggested play for the previous week saw bets of $13 produce a return of $27.05 following Handsome Bo Bo’s victory over Igniting.

Happy Valley: Lam Tsuen River Handicap

The consistent Xiang Bai Qi can topple the favorite Superbella in the Lam Tsuen River Handicap (1800m, or about 1 1/8 miles) at Happy Valley on Wednesday.

Superbella was set to be a short-priced favorite after demolishing a Class 4 field over the same distance on April 8 by nearly five lengths.

It was an impressive victory, but also a massive improvement on his previous 11 starts, in which he failed to finish in the top three positions once. He’s gone up 10 ratings points and it remains to be seen if he can develop some consistency.

Xiang Bai Qi, however, has put together three consecutive quality efforts. He impressed two starts back when overhauling Fast Pace, who opposes him again in this race, and was just beaten by Vincy at his most recent run.

Last-start winner Cheerful Days should run well, as should Fast Pace, while two intriguing runners are Dynamic Eagle and Bundle of Delight. Both won Class 4 races two starts back but failed when stepping up to Class 3 at their most recent runs. They are both capable of bouncing back.

BEST PLAY

Hong Kong, Race 9 at Happy Valley

$4 to win: #4 Xiang Bai Qi
$10 to show: #4 Xiang Bai Qi
$1 trifecta: #4 Xiang Bai Qi, #10 Superbella / #4 Xiang Bai Qi, #10 Superbella / #6 Dynamic Eagle, #8 Bundle of Delight, #9 Cheerful Days, #11 Fast Pace

Bet Hong Kong Live Racing here!