NARKISSOS (6) is the horse to beat, resuming with two wins and one place from five starts around 1400m and a last-campaign win over Rouge Ballon at Chukyo before a solid fourth as favourite at Niigata. FEMME MARQUISE (10) has a sharper track-and-distance profile, having won at this track in ALLOW grade two starts ago, and her overall record of two wins and one place from five starts gives her clear upside fresh. ONE CALL AWAY (2) brings reliable current form, finishing second at Hanshin before closing strongly for fourth at this venue, and her 1400m record keeps her right in the winning discussion. POPPET (1) gets weight relief, draws barrier 1 and has a 1400m win on the board, though she must turn her closing style into something more decisive than her Tokyo sixth last start.