Day: March 18, 2021

Jeju Friday Selections (March 19)

Conditions remain unchanged in Korea which means that despite sports such as football and basketball (the latter indoor) being permitted to have 10% capacity attendance in the Greater Seoul area and bars and restaurants being packed with maskless customers, racing remains unable to open its doors to long suffering punters in the most populous part of the country. However, the Busan and Jeju Racecourses along with OTBs in Busan (both of them), Changwon, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju and Cheonan will be open at 20% of indoor seated capacity. There is racing at Jeju on Friday, Busan on Saturday and Seoul on Sunday. Jeju gets things underway with an 11-race Friday pony card running from 13:30 to 18:00. Here are selections for that meeting:

Race 1: (6) MYEONGSEONGGISANG is a winner already and neat three of these last start when recording the fastest time in the field at today’s distance. (10) GANGHANNEUNGRYEOK should pose a stiff challenge having run a good 2nd on debut a month ago and has plenty of scope to improve. Selections: 6, 10, 5, 4

Race 2: (2) DALUIJUNSA has run consistently fast times and is one of two who look ready to win here. He is marginally favoured to see off (7) CHOIGODAEJANG who has been getting closer across three starts so far/ Selections: 2, 7, 9, 1

Race 3: (8) MYEONGGAUIHIM will be a strong favourite here with a win and two runner-up finishes from efforts to date. He beat three of these last time and has the fastest times in the field. (7) KWANGAUICHAMP was 4th behind Myeonggauihim last start and also has win. He’ll be on pace and goes close. Selections: 8, 7, 9, 4

Race 4: (7) GANGNAMUIBIT and (9) KWANGAUIMANRI both seek maiden wins but have finished in front of one another in their latest two starts. They look set to contest the finish again here, this time for top honours. Watch the market for clues to (8) EKUSEU though. He trialed well : Selections: 7, 8, 6, 8

Race 5: A class and distance winner two starts back and then a good 2nd over 1000M last time out, the consistent (1) OLLEYOJOENG is the one to beat here. (2) DANGDAENURI was a last start winner class and distance winner and will be on pace from the start with claims to go close again. Selections: 1, 2, 6, 3

Race 6: (4) JEONGSEOKDAERO has won three in a row. He steps up in trip and carries significantly more weight but should be too good again. (6) DAESANGGUN, a smart gate to wire winner over 800M last time looks to have the best chance of stopping him. Selections: 4, 6, 1, 10

Race 7: (6) HANBAEHWANGCHO has beaten plenty of these across her latest two outings and is capable of fast times. The weights are against her here but she has strong claims again. (10) BONSEONGJARANG comes in after good efforts in arguably stronger company and can be a danger. Selections: 6, 10, 8, 11

Race 8: A winner of six from eight so far (9) SONGGONGGIWON doesn’t get the benefit of quite as light a weight as he has of late but is still strongly favoured to score again.(2) GEOSEOGAN and (8) NOKWONJEIL have the best chance of pulling off an upset. Selections: 9, 8, 2, 4

Race 9: (2) TYSON ran 4th last start but beat several of these in process and the veteran should return to winning ways here. (3) HOSEUNGGOEUL has been beaten by Tyson in each of his latest two but looks the most credible danger. Selections: 2, 3, 8, 11

Race 10: The very experienced (10) BAEGYAHAENG has won his latest four. He comes down in the weights and his quality may see him through again. (1) BAEKROKJANGWON has shown he has the beating of most of these in recent starts and will be there or thereabouts again. Selections: 10, 1, 3, 4

Race 11: (1) BAEKROKCHEONJI beat plenty of these on her way to winning at class and distance in December. She comes in fresh and can score again. (9) BICHUIYEONGGWANG comes in off three consecutive runner-up finishes and can go close again. Selections: 1, 9, 2, 3