Japan's fan culture embraces Tom and Hollie while team France strikes early

The opening day of Japan Cup weekend is a slightly low-key affair with a pair of Listed races sharing the feature honours and a host of interesting maidens woven in between.

That and a wet start combined to ensure the crowd did not approach anything near the 60,000 expected on Sunday – a Japan Cup of 100,000-plus would not currently pass muster with the government as the country feels its way out of Covid restrictions – but there was an atmosphere instantly recognisable to anyone who has been racing here before.

Winners at Tokyo receive plenty of attention from amateur photographersCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

The crowds were six to eight deep around the parade ring and banks of amateur photographers still lined the rail behind the presentation area in front of the two giant Fuji View stands.