In-form jockey Harry Bentley will reunite with Blue Marlin at Sha Tin on Saturday and is confident the consistent galloper can make the leap to Class Two company.

Fresh from a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, the British rider jumps back on Douglas Whyte’s Blue Marlin in the Sheung Yeung Shan Handicap (1,400m).

After finishing a luckless third on the Capitalist gelding last month, Bentley was replaced by Hugh Bowman who guided Blue Marlin to a narrow last-start victory over Magnificent Nine in the Class Three Suffolk Handicap (1,400m).

But with Bowman currently serving a careless riding suspension, Bentley has the chance to add to his four victories on Blue Marlin.

“He’s obviously a horse that’s been progressing nicely all the way through Class Three,” Bentley said.

“Obviously he’s going to have to contend with a step up in class, but I’m really looking forward to seeing how he’s going to handle the challenge and I certainly think he’s up to it.

“He’s done nothing but improve, Dougie has done a really good job with him. He’s not been the most straightforward in the past, but he’s going the right way and he’s putting it all together.”

Bentley said Blue Marlin’s weight relief of 17 pounds from his latest run and an ideal draw in barrier two will aid his chances in a competitive race.

“He’s got a light weight [118 pounds] on his back, he’s a very big horse so he’s going to feel like he’s loose. The fact we’ve got a nice draw as well is very important for him,” Bentley said.

Blue Marlin will clash with another impressive last-start winner, Young Champion.

The John Size-trained gelding ran second to Illuminous in his Hong Kong debut before going one better with a one-length triumph in the Class Three Citi Investment Services Handicap (1,400m).

Bentley has also picked up the key ride on Windcheater in the Class Three Wong Leng Handicap (1,400m) on Saturday.

Trained by Mark Newnham, Windcheater has made a strong start to his career with an emphatic victory on debut last month and a close second to Oriental Smoke at Sha Tin last start.

The Toronado three-year-old steps up to 1,400m and Class Three company for the first time on Saturday, but has drawn wide in barrier 11.

“He’s a nice pickup ride, another one going up in class so he’s another horse that has that to contend with that,” Bentley said.

“We’ve been plagued by a bit of a bad draw unfortunately. I have to speak to Mark to see what we want to do tactics wise, but obviously we know he can go forward. He’s up in distance, so we want to be conscious we don’t burn him out too much early. So there are a couple of things to juggle, but he’s obviously a nice horse to pick up.”

Windcheater also has the aid of weight relief, dropping 15 pounds from his last start to carry 119 pounds.

Bentley will also ride Chiron, Hinokami Kagura, Run Run Timing, Fury And Gold, Oriental Smoke, Awesome Treasure and Sunlight Power at Sha Tin.

His brace at Happy Valley lifted him into the top 10 on the jockeys’ premiership with 22 wins this season.

“I’m really pleased with how things are going, so hopefully I can continue that through this month and get a few more winners,” Bentley said.