Hanshin Dirt Race 3 - #5 Accha Ghora 

Four last-start placegetters line up here with Accha Ghora the pick of the bunch. After a distant third on debut last July he was spelled for 29 weeks. The return came three weeks ago over 1700m at Kokura Dirt and the run was a real eye-catcher. He settled in the second half of the field from a wide gate before launching late to beat all but Noble Act.

Importantly he draws a far better gate this time and gets an extra 100m. In a race that lacks genuine pace on paper Katsuma Sameshima should have the colt a bit closer in the run and he is ideally placed to open his account.

A betting watch is advised on the Yahagi-trained first-starter Red Dunluce. The stable strike-rate with debutants is strong, and the engagement of the in-form Ryusei Sakai will ensure the son of Real Steel gets every chance. 

Hanshin Race 10 - #8 Altstadt 

The top of the market is occupied by some in-form four-year-olds but this Yasuda-trained entire looks to have the edge.

After struggling a bit in six-furlong dashes last prep, the stable has stepped this fellow up to 1400m races of late and his form has been ultra-consistent. A near-miss two runs back behind today's rival Qedesh was followed by a nine-week let-up and this son of Lord Kanaloa responded by driving hard late to get home by a neck. He now backs-up just eight days later, a strong indicator that he has pulled up in great order. He can get the job done again.

Qedesh was a maiden after seven starts but has now won three straight, the latest when he edged out Altstadt. Despite being off the scene for ten weeks he is clearly good enough to stretch the top selection.

Nakayama Dirt Race 4 - #9 Carolina Reaper 

Recommending a mare with just one win in 19 starts looks concerning on face value, but this field is moderate to say the least.

She returned from a three-month spell on 5 February and showed great determination to get up for third over 1300m at Tokyo. Coming back to 1200m is not a concern as she has raced well over this trip in the past, and a strong tempo looks assured. Jockey Kazuo Yokoyama is riding very well, with 12 winners from his last 50 mounts. He can wind the mare up late and she is perfectly placed to break a long win drought.

Scolari resumes after a four-month spell. The four-year-old has raced just four times and has had his problems, but his best figures stack up. If anywhere near right he can run a big race out of a nice alley.

Nakayama Race 11 - #4 Top Knife 

The Grade 2 highlight heralds the return to racing of this talented colt. His last appearance was on 28 December in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes over today's journey, a race in which he led everywhere except the final bounds. The narrow defeat at the hands of Dura Erede returned his peak career rating, which sits comfortably ahead of his nearest rival in this contest.

Norihiro Yokoyama should have the three-year-old in the first couple in running and his class should shine through.

There are a few promising types looking to win some black-type, with Revoltade the pick of those. He collected his maiden win at the last appearance 14 weeks ago as a $1.20 favourite over this distance at Tokyo. He needs to pick up considerably to trouble Top Knife, but at just his third start there is plenty of scope for improvement.