He had to endure yet another runner-up finish in the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC), but James McDonald still ensured he will enter a huge weekend in top form thanks to a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

McDonald snared three of the last five races on the card to warm up beautifully for Group One rides aboard Romantic Warrior, Voyage Bubble, Howdeepisyourlove and Ensued at Sunday’s Hong Kong International Races (HKIR).

He opened his account aboard Prince Alex in the second leg of the IJC, before snaring the Class Four Ireland Handicap (1,200m) with the in-form Smart Fighter and closing the card with victory aboard Chill Chibi in the Class Two Japan Handicap (1,800m).

McDonald’s treble was his best return of his current short-term contract, which has netted 10 winners from six meetings so far.

“It would have been nicer to win but I’ll take runner-up,” said McDonald, whose equal second behind runaway IJC winner Mickael Barzalona was his third such finish in the prestigious competition.

“I’ve got nine rides [on the weekend] and they all look strong chances, so I’m looking forward to it.”

McDonald’s win aboard Smart Fighter for Voyage Bubble’s handler, Ricky Yiu Poon-fai, was his most convincing of the night, while he snared the traditional Class Two finale aboard a Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained galloper for the second year running.

“It was a nice tough effort [by Chill Chibi], I won the race for Danny Shum last year,” said McDonald, referencing his win aboard Helene Feeling 12 months ago for the man who trains Romantic Warrior.

Earlier on Happy Valley’s biggest night, Good View Glory’s victory in the Class Five France Handicap (1,200m) provided trainer Dennis Yip Chor-hong with some welcome good news just hours after Massive Sovereign was withdrawn from this weekend’s Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m).

Yip’s stable star was withdrawn from the HK$40 million feature after sustaining a bone injury to his left hind leg, meaning the trainer won’t have a presence in the HKIR features.

He was pleased to leave Happy Valley with a win, however, praising French jockey Barzalona after he found a spot one off the rail just behind midfield from gate nine before producing Good View Glory in the straight.

“Good jockey. He saved all the ground and rode a beautiful race,” said Yip.

“We didn’t know the pace or anything but he got in a nice position and the horse finished very strong. Before the race the horse also trialled very well.”

The win proved the perfect sighter for Barzalona, who reeled off two more wins to secure a maiden IJC success.

A race later, Keith Yeung Ming-lun celebrated like he’d won the IJC after taking out the Class Four Great Britain Handicap (1,650m) aboard Youth Power for David Hayes.

Yeung notched his eighth win for the season and Hayes saluted for the third consecutive meeting, ensuring the handler is in strong form ahead of his bid to land the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) with red-hot favourite Ka Ying Rising.

Hayes went on to ring up a double thanks to the victory of Soleil Fighter in the third leg of the IJC, with the Australian moving to 19 wins for the season and into third in the premiership, four wins behind pacesetter Pierre Ng Pang-chi.