Full Race Analysis Sunday, 26th April 2026 · Five Races · All Class VII
Asher Butt
Race 1 — Class VII Div VI & VII (1000m, Field of 11)
The opening race is a wide affair with eleven runners and three horses sharing the joint top weight of 9-0 — Haseeb Thrill, Anni Power, and True Promise. The book makes Haseeb Thrill its favourite, but when three horses carry identical weight in a packed field, the one positioned slightly differently from the market deserves attention. True Promise is my selection to win. In a congested early gallop over 1000 metres with such a large field, the race can easily fall the way of a fresh horse with a quiet preparation. Haseeb Thrill I demote to place — it is the book's pick and not without merit, but the market likely shortens it beyond its true price. Anni Power as fluke is a straightforward agreement with the book; at 9-0 it too has every right to feature, and in a race this open, a three-way split in the finish is entirely plausible. Good Boy at 7-10 is a significant weight concession behind the leaders and represents the book's place at a stretch.
Race 2 — Class VII Div VI (1000m, Field of 9)
Construct Craft returns and the book restores its faith after last week's upset defeat to Piyari. That is the correct call — Construct Craft remains the best horse in this division and should prove it here. The agreement is full on the favourite. Where I diverge is the place: Fakhar-e-Sardar (8-6) was listed as the book's fluke last week and ran with enough credit to be promoted here to place, ahead of Zaman Sahib. The latter finished a surprise third on day 33 and backing it for a place finish two weeks running feels like chasing a result. Yes Commander, carrying top weight of 8-10 and largely ignored by the book, is my fluke — that weight means the handicapper has reasons to respect it.
Race 3 — Class VII Div III, IV & V (1000m, Field of 12)
The biggest field of the day and a competitive mix of three divisions. Eden Queen at 9-0 is a bold book favourite in a twelve-runner race and I back that call fully. Best Call also carries 9-0 and is completely overlooked — that is my fluke, because top weight shared between two horses in this division usually means one of them causes a surprise. Be A Man at 8-8 has the look of a legitimate contender and I promote it from book fluke to my place selection. Emerging Star at 7-12 carries a significant weight disadvantage over a distance where 12 pounds to the leader is a serious concession.
Race 4 — Class VII Div I (1100m, Field of 6)
A small, quality field at the step up to 1100 metres, and the key argument is between Feel My Love and Sikandar. Feel My Love carries 9-2 — the heaviest weight on the entire card today — which in a six-horse race over this trip is a very meaningful signal from the handicapper. I make it my favourite despite the book preferring Sikandar. The latter is my place selection. Wynx at 8-10 sits between the two market principals on weight and is entirely capable of getting involved — it is my fluke over the book's Golden Heart, which is two pounds lighter and faces the same challenge of conceding ground to the top weights.
Race 5 — Class VII Div II & III (1100m, Field of 10)
The day's finale is where I make the most significant departure from the book. Casino KRC tops the weights at 9-0 in a ten-horse field and is simply not mentioned by the book at all — it goes straight to Desert Parri as favourite. That oversight is where the value lies. My favourite is Casino KRC; the top weight in a Class VII race of this type is rarely allocated without reason. Desert Parri is a sound selection and I retain it as my place. Haseeb Gladiator is my fluke — it ran third in the April Cup last week, has proven form in this class, and steps up to 1100 metres which should suit. The book's fluke Safe Bet carries only 7-12, conceding a significant amount to the principals.
Summary of Key Divergences from the Book
In Race 1, True Promise replaces Haseeb Thrill as favourite. In Race 2, Fakhar-e-Sardar replaces Zaman Sahib for place and Yes Commander is the fluke. In Race 4, Feel My Love takes over from Sikandar at the top, with Wynx as fluke. Most boldly, Race 5 has Casino KRC as the favourite where the book doesn't mention it at all. These are the five races where the weights tell a slightly different story from the formbook — and the weights rarely lie.
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