Frankie Lor Fu-chuen will send out a quarter of the field as he attempts to retain the Group Three January Cup (1,800m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

Lor is responsible for three of the 12-strong field, with last season’s winner Money Catcher spearheading the trainer’s assault on the Valley’s only Group contest.

Placed twice at Group One level, in the 2022 Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) and last year’s Gold Cup (2,000m), Money Catcher is the class act as he bids to repeat his win of 12 months ago, when he made most of the running under Silvestre de Sousa to beat Packing Award by a length.

Lor is somewhat concerned about Money Catcher’s weight burden, however, with his six-year-old set to carry seven pounds more than when successful in 2023.

“He’s good, but this time he carries 134 pounds,” Lor said of Money Catcher, who will be ridden by Matthew Chadwick. “He’s a very honest horse and very easy to ride.

“He just goes into the lead and dictates the pace but I think there could be two horses who want to be in front in this race. After this race, I’m not sure where he’ll go. The Gold Cup, maybe.”

Early speed is set to play a huge part in this race with Money Catcher perhaps facing a fight for the lead with Telecom Fighters, who has attempted to make all the running for trainer Me Tsui Yu-sak in 11 of his past 13 races.

But with two other runners, Lor is likely to be prepared for every eventuality, with Sword Point and Happy Together usually preferring to pick off their rivals late.

Happy Together steps up to Group level for the first time after winning three of his four races this season, with his latest win coming over the Valley 1,650m on his last start.

The five-year-old steps up to 1,800m for only the second time in his career after finishing fifth over that distance at Sha Tin when trained by Richard Gibson last year, but Lor holds no fears over the trip and appears quietly confident.

“He’s raced over 1,800m last season at Sha Tin, and I think the distance should be good for him,” Lor said. “After his last race, the jockey told me the extra distance should be no problem.

“He’s still improving. When he came to my stable, Class Three was OK for him, but now he can win a race at Class Two level. A fast pace should be better for him and I think he’s got a good chance.”

While Happy Together steps up in trip under regular jockey Alexis Badel, Sword Point is dropping down and swapping jockeys after finishing sixth in the Hong Kong Cup last month.

Second in November’s Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) behind Straight Arron, Sword Point has run just once at Happy Valley when fifth at Class Two level in May.

“I put Hugh [Bowman] on for a gallop and the horse is happy,” Lor said.

Bentley back with a bang, bagging first HK Group winner and Sha Tin brace

Meanwhile, Russian Emperor is a chance to defend his Qatar Group One H.H. The Amir Trophy (2,400m) crown next month after Douglas Whyte’s galloper was confirmed as one of three Hong Kong entries on Monday.

The Caspar Fownes-trained Senor Toba is also a chance to tackle the race again after finishing seventh behind Russian Emperor last year, while stablemate Straight Arron is among the nominations as well.

Whyte has also entered Flaming Rabbit for the Qatar showcase meeting, throwing him in the mix for the Qatar Group Two Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup (1,600m).