Hong Kong Preview: Joyful Win can bounce back

Joyful Win (Photo by Hong Kong Jockey Club)

March 15th, 2022

#4 Joyful Win can bounce back to form and produce a strong showing in the 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) Chester Handicap at Happy Valley March 16.

Joyful Win capped off a run of good form by winning consecutive races at the end of 2021, only to finish well out of the money in his last two starts.

However, both failures came following wide barrier draws, as he found the extra ground a little too much to handle.

Against what looks like a slightly weaker Class 3 field, he has drawn barrier two and will benefit from a five pound claim from apprentice Alfred Chan. Though he has been best at 1,000 meters to date, he should get a relatively soft run from barrier two that should help him see out the trip.

#2 Armour Eagle is likely to start favorite after a strong win at Happy Valley Feb. 23. He will again have the services of Zac Purton and has a reasonable gate of seven, but he has gone up 10 pounds in the ratings, which will be tough to overcome.

#9 Scotch Tycoon produced a storming finish to win in Class 4 company at his last start, his second victory in four Hong Kong starts. Though he won’t have the services of Purton, as he did in his last start, he won’t lose much with the very in-form Karis Teetan taking the ride.

The best of the others looks to be #7 Sky Forever, a close second at his last start, though he will need to overcome barrier 11 to get in the finish here.