A huge weekend at Nakayama with the Grand Jump Saturday and the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 guineas) on Sunday.

No overseas runners in the Jump this weekend after Pentiffic had to be scratched. This is a pity as not only is there great

prize money but the overseas runners have been successful and popular with the Japanese racegoes - who can forget the

moving tribute to Karasi the year when he failed to make it to his fourth consecutive GJ after having won the three previous

years.

This year Merci A Time is hoping to improve from a record of 4th, 3rd and 2nd in this to a win. Towa Vega has won twice

this year, and Shoryu Ken has placed this year. Open Garden was fancied for the Pegasus so must come in to this, and

Bashi Ken won the Pegasus but this isn't necessarily a good pointer to this race.

23 of the top 3yo colts will ine up for the Satsuki Sho over 2000m, with the top 4 getting automatic entry into the Japanese

Derby. Aliseo won the Spring Stakes and has top jockey Norihiro Yokoyama riding. Eishin Apollon has been up there in all

his starts. Hansode Bando is named after a star Japanese footballer and he won in February. Rose Kingdom was the star

of the 2yos last year, and Victoire Pisa is going for his fifth win and will be ridden by Iwata-san after Take-san is still on the

sidelines following a fall last month.