Happy Valley was a happy hunting ground for Danny Shum Chap-shing last season and the veteran trainer hopes to replicate that success when racing returns to the city circuit on Wednesday night.

Last term’s leading handler at Happy Valley with 33 wins, Shum has a solid team of seven runners at the course’s season opener with impressive debut winner Packing Power the headline act.

“A few of my horses have got good chances,” Shum said. “They just need a bit of luck.”

Packing Power resumes in the second section of the Class Four Shek O Handicap (1,200m) after creating an instant impression at his first start in June.

Backing up his strong trial form, the Toronado gelding settled on the speed and kicked clear in the straight to score by a length and a half at the course and distance of his second assignment.

Shum has been thrilled by the now four-year-old’s development, having spent most of his time since his debut at Conghua. He ran a solid third in a Conghua trial last month behind Super Fortune, who won first up at Sha Tin on Sunday.

“He’s a good horse,” Shum said. “He’s improved. Lucky I didn’t push him too much last season. I gave him a break and this season, he looks much better than last season.”

Champion jockey Zac Purton, fresh from firing in a four-timer at Sunday’s season opener, will again ride Packing Power, who jumps from barrier five.

The small field of eight also features Happy Valley winners Flying Wrote, Happy Trio, To Infinity and Colonel.

Shum has two starters in the first of two Class Threes on Wednesday night, the Hoi Mei Handicap (1,650m), with Helene Warrior and Comet Splendido engaged.

A dual British winner when known as Red Zone Hero, Helene Warrior notched his first Hong Kong victory in June when scoring by two lengths over the extended Valley mile.

The Starspangledbanner colt has drawn barrier five for Hugh Bowman, while Comet Splendido jumps from gate seven for Alfred Chan Ka-hei in his bid for a hat-trick of wins.

Comet Splendido’s consistent form was rewarded with back-to-back triumphs over 1,650m at the Valley in June.

In what shapes as one of the most even events on the eight-race card, the Hoi Mei Handicap also features consistent types Hameron, Romantic Laos, Lovero, Samarkand, Ivy League, Galvanic, Glorious Journey, Setanta and I Can.

Lightning Bolt, Reliable Profit, Yee Cheong Spirit and Foremost Teddy are Shum’s other runners on Wednesday night.

The 64-year-old started the new season in style with a double at Sha Tin, with Harmony N Home and Gorgeous Win saluting late on the card.

Harmony N Home was a shock winner, backing up his upset victory at $72 at his previous start in July by defying his $57 quote, while Gorgeous Win relished a drop back to Class Three to record a convincing win under Purton.

“He’s just a nice horse,” Shum said of Gorgeous Win. “In his first season, he already won three races. We tried to force him to get the [private purchase griffin] bonus but it was a bit tough.

“We gave him a good break, he trialled very well and there was a really fast pace, so I talked to Zac and we wanted to be fourth or fifth. The last 200m he hit the line strongly.”