TACTICAL HORIZONS

Three weeks ago, the horse performed poorly over 1200m on Sha Tin turf; he was slow to break, ran from the rear with a steady pace throughout but showed uninspiring movement and finished badly. After taking time off, he moved to Happy Valley turf over 1200m for this first attempt at the distance. This time, he carries an extra 18 pounds, and the trip does not suit him; his early pace figures are weaker, putting him at a disadvantage. The connection between the jockey and trainer is not particularly harmonious. However, if he adopts a stalking running style, his late acceleration against the strongest horses in this group is decent, and the jockey/horse combination is acceptable, though his chances remain low.