Latest news with #HappyValley
Daily Mirror
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
James Norton spotted filming huge new role for very first time
Happy Valley star James Norton's latest acting role has been unveiled and he's due to star alongside some big names, including Matt Smith James Norton has been pictured on the set of his latest acting project for the very first time, as he gets set to make his debut in hit series House of the Dragon. James, famed for starring in the likes of Happy Valley and Grantchester, was spotted filming scenes for the third season of the Game of Thrones spin-off alongside Matt Smith, who plays Daemon Targaryen. James will be portraying Ormund Hightower, the head of the powerful House Hightower, and could be seen surrending his sword to Daemon in the snaps. It is unclear if Ormund is surrending or allying himself with Daemon in the scenes. In the rare glimpse into filming, the stars could be seen acting in the Surrey countryside. James was snapped in full costume, which feature his house's colours of greens and silvers. A release date for the third season of House of the Dragon is yet to be confirmed. After the premiere of the second series last year, it was confirmed that the show had been renewed. Filming commenced in March and it's currently predicted that the third series will land at some point in 2026. The season will consist of eight episodes, with the story of the Targaryen civil war continuing. Fans of the show were left disappointed with the end of the second season, with many even issuing complaints over how it concluded. House of the Dragon had been teasing big battle scenes between two Targaryen factions as Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) tried to force his sister Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) to fight as a dragonrider. Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) prepared for battle with the stark army marching south to support Rhaenyra's claim. At the time, fans took to social media to complain about the ending, as it did not live up to expectations. One person said: "Rhaena's been tracking this damn dragon all season and I don't get to see her claim it?! Ryan Condal when I catch you!" "I'm tired of things being put into motion. BE IN MOTION," another person fumed on X. House of the Dragon was created by George R. R. Martin and Ryan Condal, and is a prequel to hit series Game of Thrones, which finished in 2019. It is the second series in George's A Song of Ice and Fire franchise. House of the Dragon is based on parts of George's 2018 book Fire & Blood, and begins around 100 years after the Seven Kingdoms are united by the Targaryen conquest. This is nearly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. The show focuses on the events leading up to the decline of House Targaryen, a war known as the Dance of the Dragons. House of the Dragon is available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Matthew Poon holds off charging Derek Leung to win Tony Cruz Award at Happy Valley finale
Matthew Poon Ming-fai clung on to win his maiden Tony Cruz Award in a remarkable photo finish with Derek Leung Ka-chun at Wednesday night's season finale at Happy Valley. The 31-year-old entered the night one clear of Matthew Chadwick and two ahead of Leung, but it looked set to be a heartbreaking evening when Ragnarr arrived a nose too late in the opening Class Five Silver Grecian Handicap (1,200m). Frustration would have been building for Poon just 30 minutes later when Flying Wrote missed out in a photo in the Class Four Star Shine Handicap (1,200m), and Leung drew ominously closer in the next when Vulcanus ran riot in the Class Four Let Me Fight Handicap (1,200m). The local riders' premiership went down to the final race, with Chadwick needing a win to snatch the title from Poon. That looked likely 100m out when Thriving Brothers flew to the lead, but three other rivals flashed over the top in a remarkable finish, with the Leung-ridden Regal Gem getting up in the final stride. FOR THE FINAL TIME IN 2024/25... 😤 Regal Gem lands a first win in Hong Kong, grabbing the final race of the season over Storming Dragon at Happy Valley as Derek Leung seals a double! ✌️#SeasonFinale | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 16, 2025 That tied Poon and Leung on firsts and seconds, but with Poon ahead by a substantial margin on third-place finishes, he took the title by the barest of margins. 'It's a really great competition. It's good motivation for all of us. We stay very focused and hungry throughout the season,' said Poon. 'All of the local jockeys improve as a result. 'I think it really encourages every local jockey to improve. I'm so glad I can get there and it means a lot to win my first one – hopefully I will win a second one as well.' Elsewhere, S J Tourbillon continued his brilliant end to the season by completing a hat-trick in the Class Four Turin Redsun Handicap (1,800m) under Karis Teetan. Three wins in a row! Former @coolmorestud galloper S J Tourbillon continues his sizzling form for @KarisTeetan and Dennis Yip at Happy Valley... 💪#SeasonFinale | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 16, 2025 The pair had a lot of ground to make up coming off the bend, but Teetan galvanised his mount and they surged to the front 100m out and were quickly away for an emphatic success. 'In the mornings he's very fresh and Karis said after his last trackwork that the horse was more confident – he'd seen a big change in the horse. Karis was very confident about this race,' said trainer Dennis Yip Chor-hong. 'He carried 14lb more than he did for the first of his wins – it was a big change and he's done really well. 'If he can keep the form I think he can win again. The 1,800m and 2,000m races in Class Three aren't very strong so I'm confident he'll win again next season.' It was the first leg of a double for Teetan, who also snagged the Class Four Super Oasis Handicap (1,650m) aboard Amazing Run for David Hayes. There was a feel-good moment, too, with Benno Yung Tin-pang grabbing a farewell winner with Speedy Smartie in the Silver Grecian Handicap. Luke Ferraris went wire-to-wire on the five-year-old, who got the bob over a charging Ragnarr in a desperate photo finish. The 66-year-old signs off from training after 12 seasons and luck was on his side for his final meeting. 'He's been struggling for a while, he's been down to Class Five and drawn wide a couple of times. Most of the time he's had a bad draw and a bad situation, so it was lucky today,' said Yung. 'Last meeting and the first race – it's quite meaningful for me.' Beauty Waves is in a race of his own! 🚀@zpurton doubles up at tonight's #SeasonFinale for Tony Cruz in the Class 2 feature... @Beautystablehk #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 16, 2025 Zac Purton was also on the scoresheet for a double late on the card, with Highland Rahy winning the Class Three Sweet Orange Handicap (1,650m) before Beauty Waves ran away with the feature Class Two Lucky Patch Handicap (1,200m). Bigger targets await that classy operator, who smashed the track record and will return to Group company next season. 'He's going to get nine to 10 rating points and he broke the track record too, so we don't have much choice but to go up in grade,' said Beauty Waves' owner Patrick Kwok Ho-chuen. 'He was carrying 134lb breaking that record, which is very rare, but against Ka Ying Rising – the monster – a place would be like winning.'
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
About 20,000 spectators pack into Happy Valley to soak in final day of horse racing season
Tens of thousands of punters packed into Hong Kong's Happy Valley Racecourse to soak up the party atmosphere on the last day of the horse racing season on Wednesday, with many saying it was the busiest they had ever seen. A full house, estimated to be around 20,000 spectators, attended Happy Wednesday, which featured live bands, DJs and a fireworks display. Happy Wednesday is one of Hong Kong's two horse racing events that run weekly throughout the season. The Happy Valley event is known to attract a younger crowd and tourists with a lively atmosphere because of its HK$10 (US$1.30) entry and focus on food, alcohol and live music. Hong Kong Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said that the crowd showed Hong Kong horse racing was more than a gambling spectacle. 'It is the excitement of Hong Kong, I think it will be a full house, and that is something which epitomises Hong Kong,' Engelbrecht-Bresges said. 'It's a passion for horse racing. It's a passion of energy, of close finishes, dynamism. Highland Rahy (6), ridden by Zac Purton, won the Class 3 over 1,650m at Happy Valley. Photo: Kenneth Chan 'Horse racing in Hong Kong is absolutely unique, and the most unique place in the world for horse racing is Happy Valley.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Stage set for huge Happy Valley season finale as Benno Yung, Antoine Hamelin, Alfred Chan and Ben Thompson sign off
A Happy Wednesday music festival and a pyrotechnics show will provide the backdrop for Wednesday night's season finale at Happy Valley, where the fight for the Tony Cruz Award will go down to the wire and the curtain will come down on Benno Yung Tin-pang's training career. The season's Champion Griffin will also be crowned, with Sky Jewellery, Crossborderpegasus and Magnifique in the running, and there will be a jockeys' parade on the track so fans can interact with their favourite riders and maybe even score a horse plushie. Matthew Poon Ming-fai (36 winners) leads the Tony Cruz Award standings but the race to be anointed the campaign's most successful local jockey is one of the most hotly contested in years, with Matthew Chadwick (35) and Derek Leung Ka-chun (34) in hot pursuit. Yung saddles up four runners as he looks to add to his 360 successes across 12 seasons training in the Hong Kong pressure cooker, with last-start winner Endued perhaps the veteran handler's best chance on the night in the Class Four Super Oasis Handicap (1,650m). Jockey Hugh Bowman and trainer Benno Yung after Endued's recent win. Endued jumps from gate eight under Hugh Bowman and will carry 134 pounds after a sharp Sha Tin victory earlier this month. Yung will also have high hopes for last-start runner-up Speedy Smartie in the Class Five Silver Grecian Handicap (1,200m), while Stormi switches from dirt to turf for the Class Four Turin Redsun Handicap (1,800m). Yung's final career runner comes in the night's feature, the Class Two Lucky Patch Handicap (1,200m), as Aeris Nova chases a first success in the grade. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. Also finishing up at the midweek meeting are Antoine Hamelin, Alfred Chan Ka-hei and Ben Thompson, with the latter having three chances to add to his Sunday success aboard All's Well before returning to Australia. Alfred Chan returns for his farewell at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Storming Dragon looks to be Thompson's best chance in the Class Three Sun Jewellery Handicap (1,200m), while he also rides Sportic Warrior and Night Purosangue. Hamelin has punched home 111 winners across more than five seasons in Hong Kong and he has been in top form late in his stint. He has a seven-strong book at the season's 88th and final meeting, headlined by impressive last-start winner Victor The Rapid on the quick backup in the Sun Jewellery Handicap. The Frenchman also partners Winning Money, California Blitz, Floof, Great Legacy, Courier Aladdin and Senor Toba before returning to his homeland. The retiring Chan reappears for his farewell after not riding in a race since February, with the 31-year-old joining forces with the smart Magic Control in the Class Two feature and old friend Sugar Sugar in the season's last race.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Derek Leung ‘still positive' about a late comeback as Tony Cruz Award reaches its finale
Derek Leung is right in the mix for the Tony Cruz Award. Photos: Kenneth Chan Derek Leung Ka-chun is hoping to be the comeback king at Happy Valley on Wednesday with his sights firmly set on overhauling Matthew Poon Ming-fai in the Tony Cruz Award race. Sitting on 34 winners for the campaign, the 36-year-old is two behind Poon in the local riders' premiership heading into the final meeting of the season, with fellow hopeful Matthew Chadwick sandwiched between them on 35 in what is set to be a photo finish. Leung entered Sha Tin on Sunday down three to Poon, but with the championship leader drawing a blank, he took full advantage by driving Happy Universe to success in the Class Four Solar Hei Hei Handicap (1,600m). Buoyed by that success, a typically optimistic Leung is hopeful of catching 'The Train' and winning his third Tony Cruz Award. Chasing hard! 💪 Derek Leung closes the gap with a 34th win this season aboard Happy Universe, trailing Matthew Chadwick (35 wins) and Matthew Poon (36) in the Tony Cruz Award race... #SeasonFinale | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) July 13, 2025 'I'm still positive on catching him. I always think in a good way and I have good support on Wednesday,' said Leung. 'The draw isn't a help on some horses but I will try my best to catch 'The Train'. We will see what happens. It will be an exciting finish.' Leung has eight rides at the city circuit and chief among his chances is the Pierre Ng Pang-chi-trained Prestige Always in the Class Three Sweet Orange Handicap (1,650m). The Starspangledbanner galloper has gone close under Leung on his two most recent starts over course and distance, most recently finishing a neck second in the Class Three Sheung Shui Handicap last month. The draw has not been kind to the Irish import and that theme continues on Wednesday from stall seven, but Leung is confident his mount can overcome it and run another big race. 'He's run very well on his last two starts. Of course, an inside draw would be helpful but he's a straightforward horse – he can lead or sit close,' said Leung. 'I will just try to be handy first of all and we'll work it out from there. I think he has a great chance.' Leung also rides the in-form Sterling Wongchoy for trainer Douglas Whyte in the Class Four Super Oasis Handicap (1,650m). He was a winner over course and distance two starts ago and after setting out to make all on his most recent start, he only succumbed to the late charge of Capital Legend in the dying strides. Sterling Wongchoy sees out a strong mile at Happy Valley for his first win with @HugeBowman! 👌 @DJWhyteTrainer #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 21, 2025 It is another sticky draw for Leung in barrier 11, but he is hoping a light weight can make his mount tough to catch. 'He won in Class Five company two starts ago but he ran a really good race in this grade last start,' said Leung. 'I haven't been working him in the morning but I'm sure Douglas has done a good job with him. 'We have an outside draw this time but we have a light weight, so we'll try to go forward and see what happens from there.' Of his remaining rides, Leung points to the chances of Vulcanus in the Class Four Let Me Fight Handicap (1,200m). 'He has gone close in his last three starts and this time he has a good draw again. Fingers crossed he can keep his good form going,' said Leung.
