The trainers’ championship is shaping up to be a real battle royal between John Size and Frankie Lor Fu-chuen this season, with the next staging post en route to victory coming at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

There is nothing to split Size from his former assistant right now, with both trainers sitting on 61 winners after Lor fired in a double at Sha Tin on Sunday, and the title chasers are set to go head-to-head in the biggest races on the Valley card.

Size is outnumbered in the most valuable race, the Class Two Chater Handicap (1,800m), in which Money Catcher looks to be Lor’s best chance after a couple of good efforts in this season’s four-year-old series.

Beaten only a couple of lengths when third in both the Classic Cup behind California Spangle and the Hong Kong Derby behind Romantic Warrior, Money Catcher could well get an easy lead at the Valley in this seven-runner contest and may prove hard to pass late on.

Lor’s other runner Looking Great has been consistent this season, winning once and picking up prize-money in his past five starts.

He may have found 1,600m on the sharp side when fourth last time and will appreciate a return to the trip over which he has registered two of his three Hong Kong successes.

Size’s sole representative Savaquin has put in the odd good effort this season but has failed to win since saluting at Class Two level off a rating of 84 in April last year. His wins have all been over a mile so this trip could stretch him.

Lor again outguns Size in the Class Three Des Voeux Handicap (1,200m) but the 11-time champion trainer at least goes in with a last-start winner in the shape of Wild West Wing.

The five-year-old was impressive when stalking the pace before shooting clear in the straight to register his fifth career win last start but is now forced up in grade after being raised six pounds for that success.

All his wins have come at Class Four level, so it would take a brave punter to think he will follow up.

Lor’s Lucky Archangel is also up in grade off the back of a victory and has shown plenty of ability, notably when making all under Zac Purton last time.

He will probably be better fancied than his stablemate Flaming Passion, who has been consistent but has failed to salute in five Class Three starts since registering back-to-back wins earlier in the season at a lower level.

Trainers’ title dream far from over for Lor after Valley treble

The final Lor-Size clash on the card takes place in the Class Three Connaught Handicap (1,000m), which features just seven runners.

It could well be Size who gets the upper hand in this, with Special M chasing his third win of the season.

The four-year-old has been consistent this term, finishing no worse than second in five of his past six starts, and he should have enough in the tank to at least finish in front of Lor’s Massive Action, who has not gone close to winning in his first three Hong Kong starts.

With Size having three other runners on the card and Lor another two, it’s anybody’s guess who will be leading the title race following the final contest on Wednesday night.