From RACING POST in Hong Kong
It looks like "all aboard for the Dennis Yip Chor-hong Express" again at Happy Valley tonight, with Simple looking the standout in the Indian Recreation Club Challenge Cup (1,000m).
Yip has continued to take all before him this season, blasting through his own personal best to launch a serious trainers' championship claim going into the last two months of the term.
Another treble last weekend took him to a three-win lead over John Size and he goes to the Valley with Simple (Zac Purton) looking a good thing to add to his tally.
It's hard to believe Simple has won only once this season because he has been so prominent in his races, but that win came two runs back over the same course as this Class Two trophy and with Purton on board.
From a wide draw Purton bit the bullet and went back, finding the rail and then bringing Simple with his characteristically strong finish.
The five-year-old grey has since finished third to Imperial Rome over 1,200 metres but there was every reason to think he was the unlucky runner and should have won.
Simple had a great run until the straight, where he was strung up behind the eventual winner. He was forced to come back around his heels to get into clear running room, then took a few strides to wind up again before he rattled home too late.
With his running style, Simple is always a chance to find trouble like that but if Purton can navigate a passage through the field, he will be the one closing too well.
And if the winner looks a straight-forward selection, so do the dangers - California Bounty (Keith Yeung Ming-lun) and London China Town (Alvin Ng Ka-chun).
London China Town was a sound one-length third behind Simple two runs ago at this course, then a touch plain up the straight behind California Bounty since, but he seems to be doing his best on more forgiving tracks these days.