Three meetings in Japan on Thursday with racing from Urawa, Himeji and Kasamatsu. We've done the form and identified the best bets across the day.
Urawa Race 6- #7 Rosa Road
A few chances here but Rosa Road makes most appeal because it's easy to forgive her last start. She ran third but was beaten 5.3 lengths on muddy ground, which she doesn't appreciate and was immediately sent out for a spell. Her two runs for trainer Satoshi Kokubo prior at this track and distance were very good, winning both by 4 lengths and 2.5 lengths when able to lead all of the way. If she runs up to that level again I think she'll prove very tough to beat but with the query over last run and the time off I think we'll get a backable price. #3 Libellule is the main danger having shown very consistently high form recently without winning, but I think he's found his level and Rosa Road can go a bit better.
Himeji Race 3- #3 Minister
Not an overly strong race on a competitive card at Himeji but Minister is racing well without winning and gets her chance here. Every horse in this field has found it hard to win in recent times but Minister looks the likeliest of breaking through soon having run third and second at her past two starts at this track and distance, beaten just 2 and 2.25 lengths on those occasions. She's got tactical versatility having led two starts back and running on from the rear last time out, so regular jockey Shingo Oyama has plenty of options from the good gate and with a bit of luck, she can get the fourth win of her career.
Kasamatsu Race 10- #4 Win Happiness
Good race and I'm with the resuming Win Happiness who has a very strong overall record having won 44% of his starts, including his past two before a spell. One of those was over today's trip of 1900m and the other was at a mile. He's run very well in some of Kasamatsu's better races in the past and looks the one to beat here despite plenty of strong competition. With three other last start winners and seven of the nine having started single figures at their last outing, expect a good betting race with #7 Namura Mapogo and #8 Kurino Hibiki to provide the most resistance.
