It’s President’s Cup Sunday in Seoul. The big race has attracted a full field of sixteen and is race 8 on a 10-race program in the capital which runs from 10:45 to 18:00. There are also 7 races in Busan from 11:10 to 16:40. All betting locations throughout the country are open at 80% of capacity, however, attendance must be pre-booked through the MyCard app. Proof of vaccination against Covid-19 is required. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens kick the card off with just three of the twelve racing for the first time. (8) HANGANG CHAMP is set to be the favourite having come a good 2^nd in a fast race on debut over this distance on October 30^th. That followed an extremely unpromising trial, but he certainly seemed to know what to do on race day and with some natural improvement from that run, he can win. He’ll be a prohibitive favourite. Those wishing to take him on, may side with (7) GLOBAL PRIME. He beat a couple of today’s rivals when running on well for 5^th on debut at this distance in a good time on October 31^st. (10) GRAND POWER did nothing too wrong on his debut, recording a solid time when 6^th at this distance and being close to the pace early. In contrast, (2) MAGIC RUSH came from off the pace to finish midfield in another decent time on his first attempt and is another in the placing frame here. (12) VICS GO, beaten by Global Prime on debut, perhaps the best of the rest.

Selections	(8) Hangang Champ (7) Global Prime (10) Grand Power (2) Magic Rush
Next Best	12, 1
Fast Start	1, 3, 8, 10

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens with just two of the twelve racing for the first time. There is some positive experience on show too. (1) RAON THE FLASH has raced twice so far, finishing 3^rd on both occasions, both at 1000M in good times and most recently beating a couple of today’s rivals on October 29^th. He has finished off his races well, draws the inside and can win. (2) UNJU HERO beat three of these on his way to 3^rd place on debut at 1000M on October 22^nd when racing on-pace throughout. He too draws well and will be expected to get a lead here with every chance of going one better. (7) JUMAL BOBAE and (11) ADELE STELLA came home 3^rd and 4^th respectively in that October 29^th race behind Raon The Flash. Both were doing their best work late in that race and should benefit from the additional furlong today. (3) CHOEGANG MARINE was a much-improved 2^nd at start number two on October 17^th, coming from the middle of the pack and running on, and he is among a number of others with placing chances here.

Selections	(1) Raon The Flash (2) Unju Hero (7) Jumal Bobae (11) Adele Stella
Next Best	3, 4
Fast Start	2, 4, 5, 6

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

A big field here but a hot favourite as (5) GLOBAL MAGIC has looked to be working his way towards a victory in his two starts to date, running 3^rd and then 2^nd, both times at 1000M. He has looked to have plenty of running in him at the finish the additional furlong today may well suit. (13) TAEYANGMA ran well enough when 3^rd on debut to be given a crack at the Munhwa Ilbo Cup in early October. That didn’t go well as he knocked up very quickly to finish last. He has since had time off and then trialed and can be given another chance today. On both his debut and his trials, he has finished off well and Moon Se-young climbs aboard. (1) DAEBAK STAR has run well in both outings so far. He is an on-pace type so the inside gate should help his cause and he will be expected to lead. (7) ALL FOR YOUR DREAM and (3) FIRST CHOUX have also hinted at ability and may go close.

Selections	(5) Global Magic (13) Taeyangma (1) Daebak Star (7) All For Your Dream
Next Best	3, 9
Fast Start	1, 5, 7, 14

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(12) GREEN SPEED steps up to this distance for the first time looking in good shape following a 3^rd, a 4^th and a 2^nd in three outings to date. He has raced at the front and come from midfield and run on so the wide draw shouldn’t be too much of a concern and he can break through here. (4) USEUNG GANGJA comes in off a career-best to date 3^rd place on November 7^th when he also registered the fastest time of any of these at today’s distance. He looks nicely in here to match of better today. (5) PICTURE JASPER is a stablemate of Green Speed. She hasn’t done much in her three starts so far but ran on well enough on her return from six months out three weeks ago to suggest that the additional furlong today may help. (8) DAEHO PYEONGJEONG and (1) HAEUNDAE BLUE are others who may place.

Selections	(12) Green Speed (4) Useung Gangja (5) Picture Jasper (8) Daeho Pyeongjeong
Next Best	1, 11
Fast Start	1, 2, 11, 12

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

Maiden fillies only here. (3) CHEOLLICHONG has been racing in tough company against the better juveniles of her crop and has been holding her own, True, she found things tough in the Munhwa Ilbo Cup at her latest start, but she can be forgiven that and given another chance today in shallower waters against more limited opposition. (11) TINA has the fastest time among those who have attempted the distance so far, something she achieved three starts back and she looks nicely in here to go close. (7) DREAM SPEED comes up in distance for the first time after three creditable attempts at 1000M. Like Cheollichong, she had been racing decent company and holding her own and may find this more amenable. (13) WONDERFUL WOMAN significantly improved at her second start, coming home in 3^rd place. Her draw is not ideal here, but she has placing chances again. (14) DIAMITE another one from an even wider draw who can also enter the calculations.

Selections	(3) Cheollichong (11) Tina (7) Dream Speed (13) Wonderful Woman
Next Best	14, 10
Fast Start	2, 3, 7, 8

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

(6) KKOTMURI was a big improver when stepped up to this distance for the first time on November 5^th, sitting in midfield and then running on well for 2^nd with four of today’s rivals behind him. He comes up slightly in the weights for that performance but nevertheless is the pick to go one better this time. (11) STORM BROWN came home in 3^rd place in that race on November 5^th. With an apprentice aboard, he has strong claims to go close again. (4) NAMDO ILDEUNG finished 4^th in the same race, having previously run 3^rd at the same distance. She draws nicely again and looks to be building up some consistency. (1) WINNER FALCON didn’t offer too many clues on debut when somewhat slow from a wide draw over 1200M and finishing in the middle of the pace. She had previously trialed well, and the extended trip may be in her favour. From the inside draw she may lead. (2) SLIM QUEEN another in the minor money hunt.

Selections	(6) Kkotmuri (11) Storm Brown (4) Namdo Ildeung (1) Winner Falcon
Next Best	2, 3
Fast Start	1, 4, 5, 6

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Competitive race. (1) PARAN WANGJA has run consistent times over this distance and while he was a slightly disappointing 5^th over this distance at his latest start on October 9^th, the margins weren’t huge. and it was arguably a tougher race than today. From the inside gate, he can get on pace early and could be the one to beat. (2) HI HI is another who has shown consistency and also holds the fastest time among these at this distance, although that was recorded back in March on a very wet track. He came from the middle of the field to run on for 3^rd over 1400M at his latest start and is a danger here. So too is (12) LADY FIRST. She was a smart winner on debut in August at 1000M and while she could only manage 5^th on her first try at class and distance back in September, she came back lame after that and can be given another chance here. (4) THUNDER CHAMP comes in following a runner-up finish over 1300M on October 16^th when he led from the gate until the final furlong. He should be in the mix here too. (3) YUKWAEHAN NALDEUL is another who races for the first time since that race in September when she was beaten by Lady First. She will lead here and will be in this a long way.

Selections	(1) Paran Wanga (2) Hi Hi (12) Lady First (4) Thunder Champ
Next Best	3, 8
Fast Start	1, 3, 6, 10

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(8) HANEUL JEONSA was a commanding winner on debut on October 22^nd, when he broke fairly but quickly worked his way to the front and ran to win easily. He comes up in both class and in distance today, but neither should be a problem and he can win again. (3) AGAIN TOUCH hasn’t quite kicked on from her excellent performance on debt but Touch Star Man’s half-sister should have enough about her to be competitive here. She wasn’t a factor in the Gimhae Mayor’s Cup but she gets a better draw than did in both that and her previous two races since her win and she should go close. (2) LIGHT STORY was similarly impressive on debut over 1000M but was flat on reappearance over 1400M three weeks ago. The drop back in trip may suit today. (11) UNJU EUTTEUM broke through two starts back at this distance before running 4^th on his first try at this class over 1400M on November 7^th, when he led for much of the way around. The draw is not great here, but he should be in the frame. (5) DAESEUNG E, a close at hand class and distance runner-up on October 31^st, is another who enters the calculations in what is a good race.

Selections	(8) Haneul Jeonsa (3) Again Touch (2) Light Story (11) Unju Eutteum
Next Best	5, 6
Fast Start	3, 4, 8, 9

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