Plenty of racing in Japan today with meetings at Himeji, Nagoya, Kawasaki and Kochi. We've done the form and picked out our best bets for your Tuesday.
Himeji Race 11- #4 Best Of Luck
There looks to be three key chances in the penultimate race at Himeji and I think Best Of Luck will provide the best betting opportunity. This five-year-old brings the best last start rating into the field having run on strongly for a narrow third at this track and distance last start. A repeat of that effort should prove very tough to beat here and he's unlikely to start favourite with #8 Namura Tata coming off a $1.50 starting price and bringing strong ratings and a consistent record to this. While Best Of Luck will have to run up to his best to win, his last start run was encouraging and he can take this out.
Nagoya Race 10- #7 Destello
Strong prize money on offer here for the three-year-olds and it looks a race in two with Destello coming out narrowly on top. I think #8 Seven Colors will start a clear favourite having won 5/5 including a dominant win last time out, but on ratings there's very little between the pair. When under the care of Hideki Kakugawa, Destello was placed in the listed Hyogo Junior Grand Prix and has only improved since transferring to Yuji Uchikoshi, running on powerfully to win by 2 lengths last start. While Seven Colors will likely lead, she won't get it all his own way and Destello can pounce late.
Kawasaki Race 2- #1 Route De Pierre
Another race for the three-year-olds here and Route De Pierre looks awfully hard to beat with plenty of upside. He's only had one career run, leading over this track and distance and doing well to hold down second, with a strong gap back to third. That was a handy race he contested and from the inside gate he should get every chance to find the front again. This field is relatively exposed, with all runners having had more starts than Route De Pierre and none yet showing the level of talent. With our pick going around at 14-1 on debut, I think we'll get an inflated price in comparison to his talent.
Kochi Race 8- #2 Tenchishimmei
A few chances in this but Tenchishimmei is in flying form having won his past two at this track and distance, running an identical rating in each win. A son of the great Orfevre, he's come from the back with a powerful finish in each win and rates highly in this field. His main danger is #8 Zangetsu who also started $1.70 and won last start. That was his first start away from the JRA where he was struggling but if he's able to improve off that he'll take beating. Nevertheless, Tenchishimmei has the runs on the board and is coming out of a faster race and looks the horse to beat.
