Swag of withdrawals gives Ho a boost, and he snaps up Purton for good measure

He still requires two winners to avoid a third strike, and Peter Ho Leung saw his midweek hand grow from four to five after an unusual number of withdrawals for Wednesday night’s Happy Valley meeting.

Seven gallopers came out on Tuesday, and while Ho’s last-start winner Viva A La was among the scratchings, he saw two of his gallopers – Noir Rider and Cheong Fat – promoted from the standby list for the second-last meeting of the season.

While the swap of Noir Rider for Viva A La in the Class Five Street Cat Handicap (1,000m) means nothing in Ho’s fight for survival – he has already used up the two cellar-grade winners that count towards a handler’s total for Jockey Club benchmark purposes – the addition of Cheong Fat at Class Four level is a nice boost for the veteran.

The six-start maiden comes into the second section of the Star Shine Handicap (1,200m), and Ho has taken the opportunity to snap up the services of the all-conquering Zac Purton after the champion jockey did not initially have a ride in the race.

Ho will be hoping to see Cheong Fat improve on his last-start, two-length sixth, and having Purton in the saddle for the first time will give the four-year-old every chance of doing so.

Ho, who is almost certain to be forced into retirement if he does not conjure up two winners in Class Four or better this week, also saddles up Mr Valiant, Modest Gentleman and Packing Award at the midweek meeting.

Packing Award, Ho’s highest-rated horse on a mark of 90, looks the trainer’s best chance of adding to his tally of 16 wins this season as he chases a second victory of the term in the Class Two Sun Jewellery Handicap (1,650m).

The five-year-old was fourth behind Tuchel in the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) last start and will race under Karis Teetan in a hot contest featuring the likes of Butterfield, Nimble Nimbus and Atullibigeal.

Packing Award is also among the entries for the Class One feature at Sunday’s season finale, one of Ho’s eight nominations for the 88th and final meeting of the campaign.

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