The blossoms may not be quite out yet but racing has moved to its Cherry Blossom Festival schedule for Saturdays. There will be 11 races at Seoul from 14:45 to 21:00. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Fillies only in this maiden and it’s one of the two debut-makers who is set to be the warm favourite. (9) KKUMUI HYANGGI went through a couple of trials last summer without making it to the races but came back into training this year and went through a quick trial in February, settling back and working home well. This is a very soft race to start in and if she brings the trial form, she should win. The other first-timer is (5) KOTAP. She went through three trials getting it right in the 3^rd of them in a fair time (albeit a full three seconds behind Eoma Eoma). Again, that should be enough to put her in the places here. The exposed form is lacking. (8) THUNDER STORM ran 4^th on debut and while she was well back on her reappearance on February 17^th, she still beat a couple of these. (11) CUPID DREAM and (10) P N S ME others who may improve.

Selections	(9) Kkumui Hyanggi (5) Kotap (8) Thunder Storm (11) Cupid Dream
Next Best	10, 4
Fast Start	1, 4, 10, 11

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Another weak maiden. (3) GALSAEK DOJEONJA is one of only two here with a top-three finish to his name, recorded over 1200M last October. He has raced fairly in three subsequent appearances and from a good draw and among weak company, he may be further forward today. He has as good a chance as any. (5) GLOBAL CODIE will also be on pace. His best so far is a 4^th place on debut and comes in following a 5^th and a 6^th from his latest two. CC climbing up today will probably give him favourite status. (8) ARNOLD QUEEN has hinted at ability across her three starts so far and has trialled up fairly since her latest appearance in January. (1) CROQUIS is the other to have achieved a to-three and that’s enough to put her in the hunt here. (2) THUNDER YEOGEOL another in the hunt for the minors.

Selections	(3) Galsaek Dojeonja (5) Global Codie (8) Arnold Queen (1) Croquis
Next Best	2, 6
Fast Start	1, 3, 5, 11

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(3) BEST DAERO ran 4^th on debut over 1200M in January and followed up with a 2^nd place at this distance on March 2^nd when racing prominently throughout from a wide gate. He draws nicely to lead this time and he will be a short price favourite to go one better. (6) SAHARAMONG ran an improved 3^rd place at start number three over 1200M in January. She comes in after eleven weeks out here and given her running style so far, the slight step up in trip can suit. (4) HAMPYEONG FIGHTER is yet to finish in the top-two in twenty-two starts but he has finished between 3^rd and 5^th on no fewer than ten occasions. He should be in the prize-money mix again here. (2) GLORY CHARM and debut-maker (7) MK STAR others who can compete for the minors.

Selections	(3) Best Daero (6) Saharamong (4) Hampyeong Fighter (2) Glory Charm
Next Best	7, 1
Fast Start	3, 5, 6, 10

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(10) THE PLAYER was thought of highly enough to be given his chance in the G2 Breeders’ Cup for juveniles last December. He only beat one home, but he returned to form when 2^nd on his first try at this distance on February 25^th. He comes up 2kg in the weights, and he draws a touch wider than ideal, but he’ll be a strong favourite. (7) DONGHAENG FIRST is yet to win in twelve attempts but has no fewer than ten top-five finishes. That includes her latest just two weeks ago when 4^th over 1400M. She remains under a light weight and stretches out to two-turns for the first time. (2) STAR CHANGER is also winless but comes up to this class for the first time following three consecutive 3^rd place finishes. She comes up significantly in trip too, but she draws well, carries a light weight, and she can be competitive. (3) PLAN B and (6) HAENGUN BARAM others in the frame.

Selections	(10) The Player (7) Donghaeng First (2) Star Changer (3) Plan B
Next Best	6, 9
Fast Start	2, 5, 10, 11

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(6) RAON SPRINTER (he’s lost “the” from the middle of his name since his last run) got his maiden win at start number four on February 25^th with a narrow score over this distance. He is up in class here but down in the weights and third-up this preparation, there could be plenty more to come. (2) GEOMUI JEONSEOL is yet to win but enters off a useful 3^rd place over 140M on March 9^th when racing handy. He draws nicely here and can go close. (8) MORNING BOLD is similarly a non-winner, but he’s run some good times and has only been outside the top-five twice. He should be on or close to the pace and can be in this a long way. The up in class (3) MAX WEEK, along with (7) CHEONGGYE GISANG are others in the placing frame.

Selections	(6) Raon Sprinter (2) Geomui Jeonseol (8) Morning Bold (3) Max Week
Next Best	7, 1
Fast Start	1, 6, 7, 8

Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(4) COSMO RUN has a habit of getting sent back to trial for laying out, but he also has some ability. He comes in off a close 5^th in a strong race over this distance on February 4^th, and so long as he behaves himself, he looks a winning chance today. (6) TAEPYEONG FIGHTER will be the second favourite. He goes best when on pace and in this company and from this gate, he can get an easy run to the front and should be in this a long way. (5) EINSPANNER has a runner-up finish at class and distance and while he was underwhelming last time out, he comes into a better gate today and may offer some interest at an each-way price. (9) MIGHTY TAP and (3) ECTON JILJU, the latter needing to be forgiven his latest, are other placing chances.

Selections	(4) Cosmo Run (6) Taepyeong Fighter (5) Einspanner (9) Mighty Tap
Next Best	3, 1
Fast Start	3, 4, 5, 6

Seoul Race 7: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(10) GIANT STEP ran 4^th on debut in January before getting his maiden win at start number two over this distance on February 24^th, racing handy throughout. He is up in class here but down in the weights and while the draw is a touch wider than ideal, he still has scope for plenty more improvement. The big danger is (8) GLOBAL MENI. He got his maiden win at this distance at start number three before beating a couple of these on his way to 2^nd place on his first try at this level on February 24^th when coming from well off the pace. He is still in nicely at the weights and he too still looks to have more in the tank. (6) NARAOLA comes up in class following a maiden win of his own at this distance.  He is down in the weights and Harry climbing up can help him compete here. (4) NAEGILUI LEADER was one of those behind Global Meni on February 24^th and along with (3) ZELOS, is another in the frame.

Selections	(10) Giant Step (8) Global Meni (6) Naraola (4) Naegilui Leader
Next Best	3, 5
Fast Start	4, 6, 8, 10

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

A winner of three from eight so far, (7) GEOSEN BANGYEOK comes in having run 5^th of nine in Seoul’s Classic trial a month ago. He doesn’t go to the first leg of the Triple Crown next week in favour of coming here and, having already been a winner at this class, he will be strongly favoured to strike again. (11) HWASUBOON doesn’t exactly win out of turn, but she rarely misses the prize money and comes in off a decent 4^th place in a quick race at this class and distance on March 3^rd. She remains under a light weight, the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and she can hit the board again. (10) ARGO MUJEOK took his time coming up to this class, winning at class 5 over this distance two starts back. He showed he can be competitive with a 4^th place over 1700M on March 3^rd and similarly remains well in the weights. The up in class (6) HAKSAN MACHO, along with (3) FINE CAMP are others to keep safe.

Selections	(7) Geosen Bangyeok (11) Hwasuboon (10) Argo Mujeok (6) Haksan Macho
Next Best	3, 1
Fast Start	2, 5, 7, 8

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

US import (8) WORLD BLAME has raced twice, running 2^nd on debut at 1200M and then 3^rd over this distance on February 25^th, both times coming from well off the pace. He comes down slightly in the weights, Johan climbs up, and it can be third time lucky. (11) RAON THE MAN is a two-time winner already and has made a solid start to life at this level with a 2^nd and a 3^rd place from his first two tries. He comes up to this distance for the first time and while he may need a bit of luck at the start, if he can find a decent position, he shouldn’t be ruled out. (10) DALKONG is yet to win in five attempts but has four top-four finishes to her name. She has registered a quick time at this distance when running 2^nd two starts back and she will be there or thereabouts again today. After going zero for thirteen, (1) LAST PITCH is rapidly up in class having won two of his latest three, the first time on pace and the second time from the clouds. He can measure up in this company. (9) MIGHTY JJANG another contender in a race of many chances.

Selections	(8) World Blame (11) Raon The Man (10) Dalkong (1) Last Pitch
Next Best	9, 7
Fast Start	7, 9, 10, 11

Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

Competitive race. (5) COMPLETE LEVEL is a winner of two from five and returns to action for the first time since last July. He looked very well when winning a trial in emphatic fashion on March 7^th and while he is up in class since we last saw him racing, he carries a very light weight, and he can win first-up. (11) GEUMA ALLURE has been a touch slow away in her last two races and has run a little better than the bare results suggest. She is a class and distance winner as recently as December, and CC getting the leg up may mean she starts as favourite here. In fact, none of these really impressed on their respective latest starts. (1) CUPID WARRIOR is a contender to have a line drawn through his last one, given that he was a runner-up at this class over 1400M two starts back. (8) VYING BLADE and (4) GRACE QUEEN other possibles.

Selections	(5) Complete Level (11) Geuma Allure (1) Cupid Warrior (8) Vying Blade
Next Best	4, 2
Fast Start	1, 5, 8, 9

Seoul Race 11: Class 2 (2000M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(9) DRAGON STAR will be hot favourite. He was 3^rd in last year’s KRA Cup Mile and 5^th in the Korean Derby and won back-to-back races at class 3 level to round out his three-year-old campaign. He ran 2^nd on his first try at this class over this distance on February 24^th, and while he does come up 3kg in the weights, he is strongly favoured to go one better today. (3) SPO BLADE has been in excellent recent form and comes up in class after a win and then three near misses at class 3 level. He comes down in the weights and can measure up here. (4) DOKKI BULPAE was 4^th in last year’s Minister’s Cup (last leg of the Triple Crown) over this distance. He then went sprinting for a bit but returned to two turns with a good 3^rd at this class over 1800M on February 18^th, beating a few of these. He carries his fair share of weight but should be in this. (10) FIRE POWER and (6) BEOLMAL DAEJANG other place chances.

Selections	(9) Dragon Star (3) Spo Blade (4) Dokki Bulpae (10) Fire Power
Next Best	6, 2
Fast Start	3, 4, 6, 7