It's time for the 2018 Tenno Sho (Spring) - one of the world's great staying contests held over two miles at Kyoto.
Racing and Sports ratings point to this being a competitive edition of the Tenno Sho with several key winning chances.
Assessed Prices:Cheval Grand $5.00; Tosen Basil $6.00; Albert $6.00; Ganko $7.50; Rainbow Line $12.00; Clincher $12.00
Assessed prices mark Cheval Grand the most likely winner. Last year's Japan Cup winner ran a stormer behind Kitisan Black in this race last year before improving to become a true top liner by the end of the year.
He didn't do much first up but that was back over 2000m and in a very strong race. He can quickly improve on that now and this looks much more suitable.
Tosen Basil has had many clashes with him over the years with the ledger currently 3-2 in favour of Cheval Grand.
Tosen Basil did stitch him up at their most recent meeting and he ran well behind Ganko, one of the winning hopes here, in the lead up at Nakayama.
Albert was running on behind several of these in the key lead up , the Hanshin Daishoten, where he ran against many of the key chances here and he looks a good chance of turning the tables.
Winner there Rainbow Line, and favourite Clincher, are both good winning hopes. The query with Rainbow Line is whether he can go on with a good prep run. He's run well in lead ups and regressed on the big day in the past.
