Second year handler, Pierre Ng has led the trainers' championship for most of the 2023-24 season seeking a maiden championship but his margin has been whittled right back and his momentum has died.

It's in the nature of Hong Kong racing that trainers cannot sustain a powerful winning run for the full season and a price will be paid later for a huge start, like Ng produced this campaign. It's then a calculated gamble whether the trainer who puts all eggs in the "first half of the season" basket will be far enough in front to scramble home at the end.

When Ng's lead was well into double digits, that looked like it might have been a gamble that would pay off, but his lead is down to just five wins over Francis Lui now and Ng has led in just 4 winners from his last 100 runners.

He has dropped down to twelfth on our trainer ratings, with top billing going to Lui and John Size.

The riders' list has changed little, despite an uncharacteristically poor run of form from Zac Purton, who has failed to ride a winner from 25 rides in the last three meetings. While he is no danger in the title race, his rating has dropped but so too has rating of second-ranked Hugh Bowman.

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(Note, apprentice jockey ratings reflect performances with their allowance "built in". As their claim reduces and they compete on a more equal footing, we expect their rating to deteriorate unless they are top class riders.)

​These ratings are updated regularly and are designed to reflect current form but with past figures also putting a brake on hot-streak performers or uplifting a long-term quality player having a quiet run.