Two NAR meetings on Friday with racing from Funabashi and Nagoya. We've done the form and highlighted the best bets on the day.
Funabashi Race 9- #2 Ambitious Salud
Tricky little race but tipping Ambitious Salud to bounce back after an even showing last start, finishing third on that occasion at this track and distance. He rated down significantly there off his past two starts having run 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st in the four starts prior and rating highly in all of them. He draws ideally in barrier 2 here and if he returns to his previous form I think he'll go close. #11 Sable D'Or looks the main danger having returned a strong win last start and gets in with 53kg but her form prior was poor and I think she'll regress.
Nagoya Race 6- #2 Rabbit Light
Good little race with a few chances and I'm with Rabbit Light bringing rock solid form of late, winning two in a row before last start when only being overrun very late to finish 0.3L away in second. She's rated within 2 lengths in her past three and I think it might be good enough to win this. There are two horses in this field that could start shorter than her with #1 Shinzen Great coming off a $1.10 starting price last start, albeit being narrowly defeated, and #7 Kitano Frankuus who has strong ratings at her best from last campaign if she's ready to fire fresh, also having started deep odds-on before a spell. I think Rabbit Light is right up to them and we should get the price to find out.
Nagoya Race 10- #11 Jo Book Luce
This looks a bit simpler with Jo Book Luce clearly the one to beat despite being beaten last start at $1.50. She just bumped into one better on that occasion but still held a 0.75L margin on her main rival here, which is #1 Kamille, who was a $7.50 chance there. Go back to Jo Book Luce's form prior where she won three in a row in impressive fashion and she'll take care of these comfortably, but even off last start she rates narrowly on top. With good early speed she'll roll forward and with regular jockey Takahiro Imai riding in good form of late she should prove too tough to catch.
