David Hall admits “it looks pretty ugly on paper” for Gallant Hero in the Class Four Tiu Yue Yung Handicap (1,650m) during Wednesday night’s all-weather meeting at Sha Tin as the trainer hopes to continue his rich vein of form.

Gallant Hero signed off with a hat-trick of wins last term – one of which was on the dirt over 1,800m – but Hall appreciates his galloper faces a tough task from gate 14 first up since May 31.

“He’s got the outside barrier, which is probably the worst start in the world over 1,650m on the dirt,” Hall said. “He finished the season off pretty well last year and strung three wins together. He also showed us he can handle the surface, which is important.

“It’s all about the draw and what position Zac [Purton] can get him into. It looks pretty ugly on paper, that’s for sure.”

Despite all of Gallant Hero’s victories coming over longer trips – 1,800m and 2,200m – the five-year-old gelding has trialled over 1,200m three times this term, and Hall is not concerned about the drop back in distance.

“We saw last year that 1,650m is a trip he’s comfortable with, and he also won over further. This is a good starting point for him,” Hall said.

Hall has bagged six wins from his past 18 runners, and the in-form trainer hopes he can continue to ride the crest of a wave on Wednesday night’s eight-race card.

“To have three doubles in a week is great. They don’t come around all that often, so certainly, we were happy with that,” said Hall, sixth in this season’s championship with seven victories.

Hall saddles five runners at Sha Tin, with Vamos lining up in the Class Five Tsim Mei Fung Handicap (1,200m) after failing to justify favouritism on two occasions at Happy Valley this term.

Man of the moment Brenton Avdulla is one of the beneficiaries of Hugh Bowman’s suspension as he hops aboard Vamos for the first time after landing the biggest win of his Hong Kong career on Sight Success in Sunday’s Group Two Premier Bowl (1,200m).

“Hopefully, Brenton’s luck can continue on Wednesday because Vamos doesn’t seem to have any,” Hall said. “I think he’s got a little bit of an illness because he seems to be scared of the winning post.”

Aca Power, Maldives and Sun Of Makfi round out Hall’s Sha Tin squad, with the latter reopposing M M Nebula in the Class Five Wa Mei Shan Handicap (1,800m) after losing to him by a short head over 1,650m last month.

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After negotiating gate 11 on that occasion, Hall is confident of another good showing from Sun Of Makfi, who will jump from barrier four.

“He ran very well last time. He’s probably a horse who needs a bit of give in the ground these days,” Hall said.

“He’s a bit long in the tooth and not as good as he once was, but he felt comfortable the other day in this grade and put in a good performance. If he can back that up, I’m sure he’ll be very competitive.”