Three meetings across Japan on Thursday with Ohi (Tokyo City Keiba), Nagoya and Sonoda all set to host. Nagoya looks the pick of the meetings with Race 10 easily the best race on the day. We've picked out our best bets across the day's racing below.
Nagoya Race 10- #1 Keiai Purple
One of the higher quality races you'll see in Nagoya with a handful of group and listed performers taking place. Keiai Purple is one of them- a listed winner just two starts ago in the Hakusan Daishoten at Kanazawa, running out a dominant 2.5 length victor there. He's also run second at Group 3 level to Group 1 winner T O Keynes which reads exceptionally well for this. He was poor last start when fifth in the Urawa Kinen but the ground was muddy there and I don't think he handled the conditions. He easily accounted for #2 Lagom at Kanazawa on a firm track and while he looks a main danger I think Keiai Purple bounces back here.
Ohi (Tokyo City Keiba) Race 10- #3 Hello Candy
Cracking race at Ohi with a few last start winners in hot form at the moment and Hello Candy is one of them, shooting for her third win in a row after recording back-to-back victories at this track. She rated highly winning over 1200m two back before an equally impressive victory over 1400m last start, which she stays at here again. If she holds that level of form she looks a key chance in this race. #2 Aero Stream is also in great form and a key danger, with #5 Shintaro also looking a strong hope on his best form if he were to find it.
Sonoda Race 7- #8 Grand Verseau
This five-year-old gelding was beaten as an odds-on favourite last start but I'm willing to forgive the run as I think he's a much better horse on top of the ground, which was on full display as he cruised to a huge 30 length win first up here in an easier race. He stepped up to this class range last start and still ran well and now looks well placed to score again. This isn't an easy race with plenty of competitive chances however if Grand Verseau replicates his rating from his huge win first up he looks the horse to beat here.
Sonoda Race 11- #2 Ecoro Brave
An open race at Sonoda but I like Ecoro Brave who has been in great form since transferring to the Ryohei Hori stable, having previously raced on the JRA circuit. This colt got his maiden win out of the way first up and ran just as well last start against a similar field he meets today when second, beaten just 0.3 lengths. His efforts have rated well and he draws ideally in barrier two. Tomohiro Yoshimura stays in the saddle and is striking at an impressive 28% from his last 50 rides. He should give Ecoro Brave every chance again to notch up his second career win.
