Just the two NAR meetings in Japan today with racing from Nagoya and Urawa. We've done the form and picked out the best bets across the day.
Nagoya Race 4- #6 Brave Journey
Keen on this in-form four-year-old who should start a warm favourite and prove too strong. Since coming to the NAR and the Kurachi stable, his form reads 13112, yet he's only gone arounds odds-on in one of those starts, providing plenty of opportunity to back him. He was narrowly defeated last start but actually ran a new peak rating there and now finds an easier race. He's got tactical versatility to either race on the pace or take a sit and it's hard to see anything really matching him. #8 Water Genie did start $2.50 last start and has some figures that measure up but I'd be surprised if Brave Journey wasn't winning.
Nagoya Race 5- #7 Real Monster
Open race with a few chances but Real Monster goes on top. He's racing well having won well two back before running second last start when up in grade, only going down by 0.3 lengths. He only needs to hold that form to be highly competitive again and he does have peak ratings better than that if he were able to find some old form. Nevertheless, I think he's the horse to beat and we should get a good price. #1 Purple Rain is a good chance to go off favourite having started $2.2 last start and placing at his past three but Real Monster comes through the better, faster race and can have his measure.
Urawa Race 11- #3 Jeunesse
The feature race of the day at Urawa worth good money and Jeunesse has the ability to take this out while fresh. She strikes a very winnable race despite the prize money with a few struggling for form and her consistency last preparation was excellent. First up last time in she ran a bold race for second over an unsuitable 800m, and only finished out of the first four once in thirteen starts, which she failed to finish. That included three wins, all at Urawa and all over 1400-1500m, posting strong figures in each. If she runs up to those numbers I think she's the one to beat.
Urawa Race 12- #3 London Boy
Competitive race to finish the card at Urawa and I think London Boy can continue to build on his impressive record. He won three in a row last preparation before failing when sixth and being tipped out thereafter. He resumed with a dominant 2.5 length win at this track and distance and signalled he's come back better than ever. A winner of 5/11 starts, he's progressive and brings the best last start rating into this field. This is definitely harder with #1 Sun Waco a bold front running type who started $1.80 last start and sure to be popular again, but London Boy has more upside and should measure up strongly.
