Boxing Day racing at Sha Tin features the four-timer attempt of Classic Series dark horse Chancheng Glory in the last race on the card and the returns of Hugh Bowman and Matthew Poon Ming-fai from their injury- and disciplinary-related absences, respectively.

Chancheng Glory contests the Pak Tin Handicap (1,600m) under Lyle Hewitson after winning the past three of his four starts this season, with the galloper’s hat-trick of recent victories coming over the course and distance of the $13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile.

Francis Lui Kin-wai thinks Chancheng Glory’s mark of 72 may not be sufficiently high to get into the final fields for any of the Classic Series events – the Mile on February 4, the Cup (1,800m) on March 3 and the Derby (2,000m) on March 24 – but he is not ruling him out.

“He’s good. If he can win, of course, but at this moment, his rating is a little low,” Lui said. “He can go a little bit further. He seems a little bit one-paced, but he can handle a bit more [distance].”

The Pak Tin Handicap is one of the best races on the Boxing Day card, with Chancheng Glory’s foes including Benno Yung Tin-pang’s experienced Australian import, I Keep Winning, on his Hong Kong debut, and two runners from the stable of Pierre Ng Pang-chi, Billionaire Secret and last-start winner Jumbo Fortune.

Pak Tin Handicap topweight Flagship Warrior is one of Bowman’s three mounts as the Australian jockey comes back from the injuries he sustained in his fall from Tuchel on November 11, while Powerful Wings is one of Poon’s seven engagements as the local rider returns after missing six meetings through suspension.

Jockey Club stewards sanctioned Poon for “having failed to ride his mount out over the final one stride” when the All For St Paul’s placed third in a Class Two contest over 1,800m on November 19, losing out to runner-up Tourbillon Diamond in a photo for second.

On the topic of bans, Keith Yeung Ming-lun and Vincent Ho Chak-yiu attracted the attention of Jockey Club stewards during Saturday’s meeting at Sha Tin. Yeung will miss three cards – January 4, 7 and 10 – for his careless riding of Ruby Sailing and Woodfire Bro. Ho will miss Friday’s programme for his careless riding of weekend winner Joyful Hunter.

The Boxing Day card’s highest-grade race, the Class Two Choi Hung Handicap (1,200m) on the all-weather circuit, features eight sprinters, including dirt debutant Seasons Wit from the yard of new dad Jamie Richards.

Seasons Wit won four Happy Valley 1,000m dashes in a row before his last-start failure behind Son Pak Fu over 1,200m at the city circuit on November 29.

“It was a little bit of a disappointing run from him last time, trying 1,200m for the first time at the Valley,” Richards said. “He drew out [in barrier 11], had to do a little bit of work and compounded late.

“He’s had a little bit of time between runs. He’s had a trial. He trialled nicely, but the trials and the pace of the trials are a lot different to race day.

“But it’s only a small field – the same horses who always go around in that grade – and hopefully, he can be a nice chance. We’ve always had in the back of our minds to try him on the surface at some stage.”