Our best bets for Thursday

Nakayama Dirt Race 8 - #9 Smart Raptor 

Lightly raced entire who looks well placed. Final two runs of last campaign were in tougher grade before a spell. This time in is fitter for two runs back, the latest pushing forward off an outside draw and leading until late before being nabbed on the line. He has drawn much better today and expected to push on again. This is a lesser race so with a better run in front looks tough to rein in again.

Miroir has been racing in great heart and looks the main threat. After three seconds on end the speedy type led throughout for an effortless and deserved win last time. This is a richer race but on current form will be in it for a long way again.

Nakayama Race 12 - #1 Rousham Park 

Lightly raced four-year-old yet to miss the frame in five runs including two wins. Was too good in his maiden success three back then scored an effortless allowance win next time out before a break. At his only run of last campaign stepped straight into the Grade 2 Asahi Hai St Lite Kinen (2200m) and after settling midfield ran on strongly to finish third, less than a length from the winner. Thats very good form for this race and with a leading rider and the inside draw he looks the one to beat fresh.

Meiner Chrysola continues to race well and looks the measuring stick. The entire finished hard in a stronger race last ti e over the same journey to place at Tokyo and on recent form is expected to feature again. 

Chukyo Dirt Race 9 - #7 Good Deal 

Four-year-old entire who ran well fresh and looks tough to beat. Returned from a break over 1400m in similar grade but draw off the track, settling off the speed and racing there throughout before winding up strongly to finish third. 

Good Deal tends to go very well second-up and he looks ideally placed out to the mile and off a better gate. On the fresh-up figure he looks the one to beat.

Valkyrja hit the line hard fresh to just miss then got too far out of her ground last time but charged home into fourth. She steps up to a mile now third-up and although hasn't raced at the journey for well over a year it's worth noting all three career successes have been at 1600m. On her last couple of runs she should be tough to hold off late. 

Chukyo Race 12 - #4 Kawakita Reverie 

Looks ready to find best form after two runs back. Resuming was fifth in a tougher race over a mile then got well out of his ground when back to 1400m last time, charging home into second. That was a good improvement in his figures but has much more to give here third-up. Just four runs ago he placed in Grade 1 company over a mile and anything like that figure would be enough to take care of this field. 

He was a winner the last time at this course and is drawn for a soft run off a low draw. Should be tough to stop. 

Satono Helios looks the main danger. He wasn't far away when fresh and is a second-up winner. The entire is no stranger to much tougher grade than this and is Grade 2 placed. He looks well placed here and can improve sharply on his fresh-up figure.