In what is expected to be her final start, the brilliant Japanese mare Namura Clair will attempt to win the first Grade 1 race of her career in her 11th attempt in Sunday’s $2.05 million Takamatsunomiya Kinen at six furlongs at Chukyo Racecourse.

The Takamatsunomiya Kinen, one of two Grade 1 sprints in Japan each year, is a race Namura Clair knows well. A 7-year-old, Namura Clair has been second in the last three runnings. She was third in the country’s other Grade 1 sprint, the Sprinters Stakes, from 2023 to 2025.

The two-time winners Charlie, Danon Bourbon and Libeccio were the focus of early betting for Saturday’s $227,800 Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan, the last of the four races in that country’s Kentucky Derby qualifying series.

The first five finishers in the Fukuryu Stakes at 1 1/8 miles earn 40-20-12-8 and 4 qualifying points. The horse with the most points in the series will earn a berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 2.

By Paul Ryding

After months on the sidelines, Bulb General’s comeback takes centre stage at Sha Tin on Sunday (29 March), where two competitive Class 2 contests anchor the 11-race programme.

Bulb General is the star of Jamie Richards’ yard, and the third-year handler has been bringing the son of Embellish back to full fitness after he suffered a right fore ligament injury in October last year, which derailed his rapid progress towards the lucrative Four-Year-Old Classic Series.

Unfortunately, I can’t be at the Dubai World Cup meeting this year. It looks like another exciting card, though, and I’ll be keeping a close eye on the action.

Meydan | Race 2: G2 Godolphin Mile

COMMISSIONER KING won the trial for this. He’s drawn in one and is probably going to have to go forward and go hard from there. On all known form, he’s the right favourite, but the inside gate isn’t ideal. That would be the only slight negative.

Meydan | Race 3: G2 Dubai Gold Cup

By Declan Schuster

There are few more exciting horses around the world, especially at eight years old, and Romantic Warrior is proving that his advancing years are no obstacle after taking a crucial step towards FWD Champions Day (26 April) on Thursday morning (26 March) at Sha Tin.

Impressing in his barrier trial over 1200m on the dirt, Danny Shum’s 13-time Group 1 winner appeared to be right on song as he aims to secure a record fourth HK$30 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) triumph to add to his already phenomenal CV.

By Paul Ryding

After following up a third career triumph in the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin last Sunday with a Happy Valley treble on Wednesday night (25 March), Hugh Bowman declared the last week “the highlight of this season”, while Danny Shum roared into trainers’ championship contention with a remarkable four-timer.

By Declan Schuster

 Everything went as expected on Tuesday morning (24 March) for Ka Ying Rising as the eight-time Group 1 winner cruised through a barrier trial in preparation for 6 April’s HK$5.35 million G2 Sprint Cup (1200m), where he’ll attempt to secure a record-extending 19th consecutive win.

Paul Lally:

R1 4-2-7-9

R2 1-8-6-12

R3 10-6-5-7

R4 4-1-2-8

R5 1-12-2-7

R6 4-6-3-8

R7 8-5-2-1

R8 8-1-12-5

R9 2-1-9-4

Best Bet R8 N8 California Moxie

Longshot R3 N10 Sunny Q

Play R9 QQP 1-2-9

Nick Child:

R1 | 4-9-2-6

R2 | 9-1-3-8

R3 | 6-2-7-5

R4 | 1-4-8-6

R5 | 12-2-7-8

R6 | 4-1-3-8

R7 | 8-2-1-3

R8 | 6-1-7-2 

R9 | 2-5-1-8

BEST BET | R3 N6 BITS SUPERSTAR