I like the booking of Zac Purton to ride TOP LAURELS in this contest and the horse should handle this surface based on his pedigree. He has been super in defeat this season and has had clear excuses for not winning on a number of occasions. So whilst it is always a little risky taking horses on trust when racing for the first time on this surface, he seems the type to handle it. TANG FLEMING worked far too hard from a wide gate last time over this course and distance in the race (224) where CHUNG WAH SPIRIT and NUCLEAR POWER finished ahead of him. He might be able to turn the tables on that pair this time with a more measured ride. FAMOUS WARRIOR will have his admirers as he can contest for the lead, but once again, he will be having his first run on the surface. He comes from a high rating contest won by Ho Ho Khan, which has produced three subsequent winners (Happy Dragon, Bianchi Monster and Zilong) and in that race he simply went too hard in the lead. There are probably more questions than answers for this race though, however a small win bet on Top Laurels is the way I’m leaning.