Dr Good Habit has been through the mill lately, with his stamina tested in the classics but a return to his best distance in the Chan Trophy (1,600m) at Sha Tin looks just what the doctor ordered, reports Racing Post HK.
The John Size-trained four-year-old didn't quite measure up in the Derby and Classic Cup, and in the former certainly showed some signs that even in his own grade 2,000m might be a struggle, but he does like the Sha Tin mile.
It was almost exactly a year ago that Dr Good Habit (Matthew Chadwick) began to make his mark, with three wins in succession.
He began with a 1,400m victory but then added two dominant 1,600m wins that earmarked him as a horse with some upside this term.
Knee surgery in the off-season set him back, though, and the gelding didn't reappear until February, when he raced well first-up but was then thrown in at the deep end and didn't have what was required.
Back in Class Two for his last two outings, he didn't produce his best in shifty going on April 6 but his latest effort was better and he only has to reproduce that to be in the thick of what is a wide open and tricky race.
Although he has that modest effort recently on soft ground against his name, his breeding and the fact of having had that knee issue would suggest he might prefer some give under foot so the rain about town isn't a concern, just a matter of handling it on the day.
In aid of that, this looks a race without noted leaders and Chadwick may be able to roll to the front, get the gelding balanced and dictate terms.
His main danger looks to be another good four-year-old, Mr Gnocchi (Hugh Bowman), who had excuses in a very slow tempo when beaten last start in a higher grade by Bubble Chic and his run in the Derby prior was very sound.