Narendra Lagad-trained Allez E'Toile for mid-day Trophy

Mahalaxmi racecourse in Mumbai. Pic/Shadab Khan

The mid-day Trophy, featuring as the most competitive race on a card specially slated to honour the contribution of print and online publications covering the sport of horse racing, appears extremely puzzling. The Pesi Shroff-trained Renoir, who enjoys bottom weight at the scales, may be very strongly fancied in the bookmakers' ring, but Manvar (late winning dash displayed in last run), Bright Button (the only horse in the field who has won over this trip distance of 2000m, albeit in lower class), Savage Peacock (getting top rider in saddle first time after sharp improvement in timing) and Her Charge (extremely eye-catching run in last start despite coming in wide) are all capable of catching the judge's eye first.

However, my personal favourite is Narendra Lagad-trained Allez E'Toile who, if he keeps straight and doesn't drift under pressure in homestretch, can decisively beat all his rivals to bag the mid-day Trophy.

First race at 5 pm.
Selections:

Mid-Day Trophy (Class IV; 2000m)
Allez E'Toile 1, Renoir 2, Manwar 3.

Racingpulse.in Trophy (For 3y, Maidens; 1400m)
Beast Mode 1, Youremyeyesbaby 2, Red Rose 3.

Indiarace.com Trophy (For 3y, Maidens; 1200m)
Paloma 1, Funny Bunny 2, Organised Chaos 3.

Race Mirror Trophy (Class V, Unplaced; 1200m)
Aeon Flux 1, Key West 2, Exhalt 3.

Hindu Trophy (Class III; 1400m)
Vegatha 1, Vincero 2, Matisse 3.

Free Press Journal Trophy (Class II; 1200m)
Big Bay 1, Scaramouche 2, Son Of A Gun 3.

Times of India Trophy (For 5y&o, Class IV; 1000m)
Desert Classic 1, House Of Lords 2, Koenigsegg 3.

Recommendations
Best bet: Beast Mode (2-1)
Upsets: Her Charge (1-7), Nine Speed (3-9) & Jagger (4-1)

Today's pools
Super jackpot pool: 2,3,4,5,6.7
Jackpot pool: 3,4,5,6,7
Treble pool: 4,5,6
Tanala pool: All races.