Happy Valley hosts its first meeting of the new season on Wednesday night.
For the September 9 card, an eight races will be contested on the A Course (true).
Happy Valley Tips September 9
Central Handicap Tips (Race 5)
Happy Valley Value Bet - Race 5 No. 7 Keefy
Although Keefy's last campaign fell away late on paper, there were excuses in several of those runs, including his June 3 effort when finishing 11th-of-12 after a wide gate proved costly.
After resuming from a decent spell, he came to hand early in that preparation and produced competitive performances through his first five outings, including two placings over this track-and-trip.
The calendar year started well for the exposed galloper and, while he has not always been the easiest horse to catch, after carrying bigger weights in this grade last time in, the veteran is well in off a 55.5kg mark.
He is tactically versatile and appeared to move well in an August 28 trial ahead of his return, giving him every chance to reproduce one of his better performances fresh.
This is an open race, but Keefy's peak figures stand out well enough, including an equal-high Happy Valley rating among this field over the past 12 months, which warrants his inclusion at the price.
Kowloon Tong Handicap Tips (Race 6)
Happy Valley Favourite - Race 6 No. 2 Beauty Show
Beauty Show produced consistent form throughout his first campaign, with his biggest defeat across the entire preparation coming when beaten three lengths over the Happy Valley 1000m on May 20.
He was beaten only half a length by the smart Tycoon Resources on debut, while the April 22 event he contested next has produced four winners, giving the form around him additional substance.
The gelding then recorded another competitive fourth before finishing his preparation with consecutive half-length seconds, including his latest appearance here on July 8.
Beauty Show worked early on that occasion and was clearly the pick of the on-speed brigade in a race that favoured those charging home from off the pace, before being given a short spell.
He appeared to move well enough in his lead-up trial and finds the weakest race he has encountered in Hong Kong, giving him every chance to breakthrough fresh under Zac Purton.
Tsim Sha Tsui Handicap Tips (Race 7)
Happy Valley Best Bet - Race 7 No. 1 Robot Lucky Star
Connections may have been a little frustrated that Robot Lucky Star managed only one victory last season after beginning his career with plenty of promise, but the lightly raced galloper still appears to be learning his craft.
There should be further upside heading into the new season, and the Mark Newnham-trained gelding picked up strongly late to win an August 30 trial, indicating he is ready to produce fresh.
Zac Purton stays aboard from that hit-out and was also in the saddle for Robot Lucky Star's first four starts, when the son of Hellbent never finished outside the placings and recorded his sole victory.
He rises in weight but arrives off a string of shorter starting prices in stronger company and potentially finds an ideal opportunity to strike by resuming in Class 4 against opposition he's capable of progressing beyond.
Robot Lucky Star still needs to tick the 1200m box, but he's the starting point in this field on class and a soft draw gives Purton every chance to produce him at the right time.
Wan Chai Handicap Tips (Race 8)
Happy Valley Next Best Bet - Race 8 No. 4 Tycoon Resources
Tycoon Resources looked one of Hong Kong's more exciting up-and-coming sprinters during his first campaign, which began with a winning hat-trick and showcased plenty of natural speed and versatility.
He raced outside the leader when scoring on debut before overcoming a slow getaway at start two to charge home under 60kg, performances that indicated he possesses above-average ability.
The hat-trick was completed on June 10 with a comfortable 1.5-length victory, before he produced an inexplicably poor effort at his final start of the preparation when an irregular heart rate was detected post-race.
That performance was simply too bad to be true and can be forgiven, while a strong August 28 trial victory ahead of Wednesday's return suggests there is plenty of intent first-up.
The half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Hungry Heart remains in the same grade, and with tactical versatility, clear excuses for his only defeat and further upside expected in his second preparation, Tycoon Resources can atone fresh.