LIFE GATE (14) brings the most reliable recent profile, having gone within a nose two back at Sapporo Dirt before another solid fifth there, beaten two and a half lengths and well found in betting. He is well seasoned, reunites with a rider who has a strong record on him, and his depth around this distance makes him the horse to beat. NIGHT SLUGGER (3) is third-up, proven at 1600m and has been consistently competitive enough to press hard, though Kazeno Takatoshi held him at Nakayama Dirt last time. ZAAFIR (7) resumes with a sharp record, having bolted in by five lengths at this track before the break and owning a perfect place record at this track and distance. FIREMAN (16) can rebound sharply from a plain 3yo Open run, with his easy 3yo Allow win at this venue two starts ago making him a genuine danger.