Sagacious Life looks Smart enough for Purton January 2, 2026 WITH the all-important Four-Year-Old Classic Series starting with the Classic Mile at the beginning of next month, it is imperative for many stables that their potential contenders have a rating high enough to take part in the contests. One horse that has no such worries about his present rating is lightly raced, but potentially smart, [...]
Trust in Sky to get 2026 off to a winning start December 31, 2025 RACEGOERS will arrive for an 11-race programme at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Thursday, armed with all their ‘Lucky Start 2026’ merchandise, and hoping to begin the New Year with a fistful of dollars. The feature race of the day, the Group Three £400,000 Chinese Club Challenge Cup, a handicap over seven furlongs (8.05am), [...]
Legendary Bowman can be punters’ Golden Knight December 31, 2025 LEGENDARY pilot Hugh Bowman, having visited the winners’ circle seven times in the past month, can keep the fire burning into the New Year, when he takes the ride on a host of winning chances on the Sha Tin card. He climbs aboard talented but wayward galloper Crossboderpegasus, who makes his seasonal appearance for the [...]
Purton and Shum hope to print the Christmas Cash at Sha Tin December 24, 2025 RACING in Hong Kong has come thick and fast over the Christmas and New Year period – five meetings in the past fortnight – and resumes again at Sha Tin on Saturday with a 10-race programme. With a mixed bag of action, including three on the all-weather surface and seven on turf, racing enthusiasts will [...]
Magnifique can Star on reappearance for Hall December 24, 2025 MANFRED Man’s ROBOT STAR is worth supporting in the TaiTan Handicap (7.35am) over seven furlongs. The well-bred son of Extreme Choice was well supported on his debut following some encouraging trials, and after missing the start ran on strongly in the closing stages to finish fourth to highly regarded Majestic Valour over six furlongs. That [...]
The Punter Podcast Episode 63: Christmas Racing Special December 22, 2025 Tom Marriott is joined by Bill Esdaile for his best bets of the busy Christmas racing schedule, highlighted by the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day. Plus, Wally Pyrah dials in to preview the racing at Happy Valley in Hong Kong on Tuesday 23 December. Merry Christmas! The Punter ‘The Punter’ has been City [...]
Christmas can come early for Size and Purton with Enthralled December 22, 2025 BANK on the formidable partnership of trainer John Size and jockey Zac Purton to serve up a pre-Christmas treat for racegoers, when racing gets underway with a nine-race programme at Happy Valley on Tuesday. The pair team up with strong stayer ENTHRALLED, who comes to the Valley for the first time in the competitive Saturn [...]
Sugar out to land sweet Valley success for Fownes December 22, 2025 TRAINER Caspar Fownes continues to churn out winners at regular intervals this current campaign, and 16 of his 24 winners have come at his favourite track, Happy Valley. The proclaimed King of the Valley is a dab hand at getting his gallopers to show their best form at the city track, so it is interesting [...]
The Wolf is Coming to Win for Shum December 19, 2025 RACING in Hong Kong reverts to Saturday from Sunday this weekend for an 11-race programme at Sha Tin and features the Class Two Ivy Handicap (9.05am) over six furlongs. With the Christmas festivities fast approaching, it will be paramount for many racegoers to top up their balances to pay for the turkey and presents under [...]
Invincible Ibis hoping for good Fortune on mile debut December 19, 2025 WITH the flagship event on the racing calendar, the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, done and dusted for another season, it is now the turn of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series to take the spotlight, starting at the beginning of February. The likes of highly progressive gallopers Dazzling Fit and INVINCIBLE IBIS have already put their [...]