Hanshin Dirt Race 6 - #7 Ritual
There isn't a great deal of depth to this field so Ritual looks a terrific chance to return to the winner's list.
The three-year-old transferred to the Tanaka stable through the year following a stellar NAR career. After a modest effort first up, he was given an easier assignment last time and worked home well to finish second over 1700m at Sapporo Dirt. It is expected he has taken further improvement from that run eight weeks ago. Jockey Hayato Yoshida will have him in the first two or three in the run and he can put this moderate field away.
It will not surprise if Pandorea improves with Cristian Demuro taking the reins. She maps to sit just behind the speed and the shorter trip today is to her advantage.
Hanshin Race 11 - #4 Diatonic
A quality field lines up for the feature, but this son of Lord Kanaloa has the class to prevail.
He opened this campaign four weeks ago and ran a huge race to finish just 1.4 lengths behind Gendarme in the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama. He produced a similar rating first up last prep then improved to score at his second run back over today's course and distance. It is reassuring that the Yasuda stable is taking a similar path this campaign. From an ideal draw he should settle just behind the leading division then finish over the top.
Ho O Amazon deserves respect first up from a 21-week spell. He opened last prep with a close second in the Grade 2 Milers Cup at this circuit. He will get all the favours from gate one and can add to his impressive record of four runs at G2 level for four minor placings.
Tokyo Dirt Race 12 - #4 Walzer Schall
There is a touch of class about this three-year-old son of Makfi who returns from a 19-week spell in a very appealing race.
His last appearance was in the Grade 3 Unicorn Stakes over the mile at this circuit and after coming from near the tail on the corner he was beaten less than a length in a career-best performance. The record when first up from a break is impressive, with two wins from three attempts including a barnstorming victory at this track to kick off the last campaign. It is hard to see the opposition he meets this afternoon being able to hold him out once jockey Kosei Miura gives him his head on straightening.
Another backmarker in Fauvisme returned with a slashing second over this course and distance three weeks ago. He will settle closer this time from a better gate and should offer the greatest resistance.
Niigata Race 11 - #12 Curren Leciel Bleu
This is a lightly raced galloper who has come back in good order. Came home hard first up over 2000m at Chukyo after settling near the tail only to find one better. Looks suited here second-up and will strip fitter for that run. He has been in the placings 2/3 at the second run back and has two wins and four minors at the trip.
The fresh figure was still a way off his best so with further improvement he is expected to go well again.
Heads Or Tails was a fresh up winner then finish fourth in the same race as Curren Leciel Bleu. Winning rider back aboard and she appeals as the main threat.
