Four meetings in Japan to sink our teeth into on Friday with racing from Sonoda, Ohi (Tokyo City Keiba), Mizusawa and Kasamatsu. We've done the form and picked out our best bets across the day.
Mizusawa Race 3 - #3 Anomaly
He's been around the traps for a while now has Anomaly, but he got back to something last his best last start at his first try at tiis course. He only went down narrowly and beat Number 5 Cierna Lod who looks a danger to our selection. He now draws a favourable barrier and should get every chance to win. Ryo Takamatsu hops back aboard and has had success when riding previously. Happy to be in his corner again this time around. Aside from Cierna Lod who looks the obvious danger coming through the same race as our selection, Number 4 Reine Des Etoiles is coming off a good win at Morioka last start and is sure to give some cheek.
Kasamatsu Race 8 - # 4 Kirari Hikaru Game
This filly wasn't disgraced last start behind a big winner but did run below her best on that occasion. Her record over this course and distance is strong, and Seiki Takano sticks from last start. Although Takano's overall strikerate isn't great, he does strike at 33% when riding for Hiroshi Sasano. If Kirari Hikaru Game can get back to her previous form, she'll prove hard to beat. Suspect Number 1 Sekitei Honoo will be set to bounce back after a disappointing effort last time, and Number 2 Kitano Otome showed good improvement last start and is sure to threaten again.
Sonoda Race 3 - #3 Yuzuruha
Looking to kick things off reasonably early at Sonoda where our best comes in race three with two-year-old filly Yuzuruha. Out of the smart Ryohei Hori stable, the filly has enjoyed a bright start to her racing career, finding the frame on two occasions. Reuniting once again is leading rider Tomohiro Yoshimura who is in terrific form boasting a winning strike rate of 31% from his last 350 engagements. Drawn towards the inside you can expect Yoshimura to race prominently and be playing a big role at the business end.
Ohi (Tokyo City Keiba) Race 3 - #8 Numa
In what should be a competitive match race between Numa and Rosen Wolf, we have landed on the former. Both in great touch, our selection Numa lines up shooting to bring up the hat-trick of wins and her fourth this preparation. In-form hoop Takayuki Yano sticks and should be able to land a prominent spot behind what should be a cracking early tempo. Expect her to be too strong for them late.
