Vincent Ho Chak-yiu has high hopes of finding cover from barrier 10 on Hot Delight as the exciting galloper bids to bounce back from his first defeat at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Touted as a future star after starting his career with three brilliant victories, the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained three-year-old was beaten in his Class Two debut when fourth to Patch Of Stars.

Lui felt Hot Delight wasn’t suited by the good-to-yielding track and racing without cover when tracking the speed after jumping from gate 11.

Harry Bentley was aboard that day and Ho, who booted home Hot Delight in his first three starts, regains the prized ride in Sunday’s Class Two Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships Handicap (1,200m).

He has drawn wide again in 10. “It is what it is – not the worst,” Ho said of the draw.

“It’s good enough. Let’s see what he can do. Hopefully he can slot in somewhere easy and he can produce a good run like he did previously.”

While Lui considered ending Hot Delight’s first campaign after his last start, the son of Too Darn Hot will be given one more run on Sunday and proved he was still in top order with a comfortable third in a recent trial.

“He still gave me a good feel and also in the mornings,” Ho said.

“The first few races he won impressively and I feel like he has quite some class in hand and of course he’s only three, so we expect him to improve more. Of course, during the summer, hopefully he matures more and will improve more next season, too.”

Hot Delight clashes with several rivals from his last start, including Public Attention who beat him home in third, as well as the likes of last-start Class Two winner Victor The Winner and the consistent Rising Force.

Ho and Lui will also team up with impressive last-start winner Thunder Kit in Sunday’s Class Three HKU Jockey Club Tower Handicap (1,400m).

A winner at one of three Australian starts pre-import, the four-year-old broke through for his first local triumph when he stormed home to win over 1,200m last month.

“He’s always up there – he’s got ability, he’s just still a big baby. It took him a few runs but he’s always there. Hopefully he’ll improve on the last run as well, which he will mentally and physically,” Ho said.

Thunder Kit steps up to 1,400m for the first time, while Ho is confident the son of Rich Enuff will handle a 6lb rise to carry 130lb.

“His fitness is good, so I think he can still handle it, no problem. Of course, he’s not a huge horse, but I’m happy with his fitness,” Ho said.

Thunder Kit has drawn gate nine in a competitive field that also includes last-start winner Run Run Smart and recent placegetters Fit For Beauty, The Unique Star and Chill Easy.

Ho has six other rides on the twilight fixture, including Invincible Steed who makes his local debut in the Class Three HKU Foundation Handicap (1,000m) off the back of some impressive trials.

The Me Tsui Yu-sak-trained import was a 1,000m winner at Seymour and ran second at the trip at Moonee Valley and Sandown when known as Facilitate in Australia.

Fortune Kingo, Windicator Family, Power Patch, Victor Supreme and Big Big World are Ho’s other Sha Tin rides.