Champion trainer John Size is having easily the best Happy Valley season of his career and House Of Fun can snare him the final race of the term there on Wednesday night in the Sweet Orange Handicap (1,200m).
There was a time when Happy Valley meetings barely featured on the Size resume but this record-breaking term has been completely different, with the Australian handler taking 29 winning photos there as he steams towards his ninth championship in 16 attempts.
House Of Fun (Joao Moreira) has been a part of that, winning five of his 11 starts for the season and has been a model of consistency even in defeat, with another four first four finishes as well.
Now he looks to go into rarefied territory if he can make it six wins in a season, as very few horses ever manage that, but House Of Fun should get every chance on Wednesday night.
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In a race without a lot of pace, Happy Meteor might well be the leader at just a comfortable speed. Even from what looks an awkward draw on paper, House Of Fun has the natural speed to stay in touch with him and should be in advance of some of his main rivals.
That should see Moreira sending him clear as the field straightens and it will be a case of whether the run on horses can get past him in the final 100m.
For danger, lightly weighted Dragon General (Umberto Rispoli) looks to find an opportunity here.
He is going much better than his form looks on paper and his latest ninth at Sha Tin was a worthwhile effort despite being beaten more than seven lengths.
That finishing position was Dragon General’s own fault as he stood there when the gates opened and was no hope by the time the race had gone 20 metres but closed the race off well and doesn’t have a history of missing away so he can be forgiven that lapse.
