NO OTHER CHOICE

Eleven days ago, the horse delivered a disappointing performance in a 1200m dirt trial; it jumped slowly, tracked the pace, and its closing speed weakened significantly in the final section, resulting in a heavy defeat. In a subsequent 1200m Sha Tin grass run, it has six pounds taken off in this race. The draw is advantageous, and its overall rating places it favorably in the field. However, having failed all four previous starts, despite being same-aged as competitors, and lacking a clear tactical advantage, if it adopts a tracking running style, its late acceleration may not match the opposition. Furthermore, there is no outstanding partnership between jockey and trainer, though it remains in contention for a win.