Buoyed by an unexpected kick-start to his season at Sha Tin on Sunday, Harry Bentley heads to Happy Valley on Wednesday night looking to keep the ball rolling with a galloper chasing a hat-trick of victories.

After receiving a last-minute call-up to ride Markwin in Sunday’s Class Two Tai Mo Shan Handicap (1,400m) when Derek Leung Ka-chun failed to make weight, Bentley speared the Cody Mo Wai-kit-trained five-year-old to an impressive victory.

While the fact he was in the saddle was a surprise for Bentley, the manner of Markwin’s victory was not after they combined for a pair of seconds last season.

“You need a bit of luck every now and again and I know this horse extremely well from having ridden him last season,” said Bentley.

“We were just denied on his last start at the end of last season and unfortunately he bled that day.

“He’s a horse that I was hoping to get back on board. I was naturally disappointed to not be the first pick but pleased I could step in as the super sub on the day.

“It gives me a bit of confidence and to get a winner early doors is pretty important here, I find, for momentum going forward. I hope I can just keep that ball rolling now and pick up some rides off the back of it.”

The Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained Wrote A New Page looks the pick of Bentley’s five midweek rides.

The four-year-old has been gelded since consecutive victories under Bentley late last season and he rises in grade for the Class Three Central Handicap (1,650m).

“He finished the season in really good form and it’s great to get back on board. I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes,” said Bentley.

“Danny’s certainly good for getting his horses fit at the beginning of the season and I don’t expect this horse to be any different. I sat on him the other morning and he felt really good. He was moving very nicely and all is good.

“There was just no point keeping him an entire and it will probably just get his mind focused on the job that little bit more, which is going to do no harm at all.

“He’s a horse that really gallops. He gets this trip no problem at all – he could probably go further in the future – and he’s got a good attitude, so there’s more to come.”

Bentley, who rode in the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes (1,000m) last month during an otherwise “very relaxing” off-season, also partners Glorious Expert, Prince Alex, Wiseman and Kingdom Of Riches on Wednesday night.

“I got plenty of rehab and recharging the batteries for the season,” said Bentley, who had to settle for last place aboard Spicy Marg in the Nunthorpe.

“It wasn’t the initial plan to take any rides, but I got a spare ride in the Nunthorpe, so it was too good an opportunity not to take.

“It was a roll of the dice with a two-year-old filly against the older horses, which hadn’t been done for a long time, so we knew it was a little bit of a stab in the dark. But it was worth the chance and it was just good to be riding at York again.”