LAHORE, Feb 25: Four-year-old colt, Byron, looks poised to win the NICL Cup 2007, Class IV Division 11 and 111, to be contested over 1600m during the 26th Lahore Winter Meeting at the Racecourse on Monday.

The meeting scheduled to be held on Sunday but was postponed for a day due to the kite flying festival of Basant on Feb 25.

With four wins at random under his belt and as many placing on the board, Byron is a better colt in experience in the nine runners field. Taking into account his bloodline ability, this son of Baker's Gate out-of-Seiko, Byron is well suited to the distance as compared to his eight rivals. Kiss Of Luck, Wendy Trace and Puma The Great may fight for the less remunerative positions. This is a Class IV division 11 and 111 handicap race and the fifth in racing order.

The fourth and supporting event, the Ghazali Cup, a class five division one handicap race has ten runners, if there are no last-minute withdrawals. Of them on chance are: Aaja Bulbul, Run And Win, Charming King and Azam Love. They should fight for the top honours. The filly, Aaja Bulbul, with the form she is at present might have the better of her other rivals.

The opener has a mediocre field of eleven runners with no one as a consistent performer. On recent form and the bloodline, if true, three of them attract attention. They are: Laila, Tosca and Love Minister. The last named has a slight advantage on handicap.

The second race has the largest field of 18 runners. Of them Prince Salman, Intikhab-e-Bhakkar and Murad King look good. They should fight it in the same order.

Kind Minister, Beautiful Baby and Do Or Die are the pick of nine runners drawn for the third race. Kind Minister enjoys a slight advantage in the handicap figures.

The sixth and last race has fourteen runners. One owner has two chance horses namely, Ikon and Cross Ruff and any of them can win the race. Bold Act could possibly be the challenger to both.

A card of six events will be decided on Monday. First two races will be held over the sprinting distance of 1000m, the third, fourth and sixth over 1300m and the fifth over 1600 metres. The first race will be held at 1.00pm.

The following are the fields and our selections.

BHALWAL PLATE CLASS VII DIV

11 1000M.

Wendy 9-0, Mama Mia 8-10, Company 8-10 ,Laila 8-8, Princess Afaq 8-8, Fearless Boy 8-8, Dam Dama Dam 8-7, Lovely Diana 7-10, Tosca 7-10, Love Minister 7-10 and Dogar Gift 7-8.

Win: Love Minister.

Place: Laila and Tosca.

BHALWAL PLATE CLASS VII

DIV I 1000M.

Super Master 9-0, Striker 9-0, Great Bulbul 9-0, Valentino 9-0, Prince Salman 8-12, So Romantic 8-10, Iconic 8-10, Intikhab-e-Bhakkar 8-10, Bosra Sham 8-10, Speed Demon 8-7, Sir Ivanhoe 8-6, Leader's King 8-6, Royal Fish 8-6, Lucky Coin 8-6, Simoom 8-5, Murad King 8-4, Malang Aya 8-3 and Titan 8-2.

Win: Prince Salman.

Place: Murad King and Intikhab-e-Bhakkar.

Ghazali Plate Class V Division 111 1300M.

Beautiful Baby 9-0, Golden Faith 8-13, Khyber Star 8-13, Gold Round 8-11, Royal Deal 8-11, Do Or Die 8-7, Grey Panther (Ex-Shahbaz Mayla) 8-7 Kind Minister 8-5 and Faryal 8-3.

Win: Kind Minister.

Place: Beautiful Baby and Do Or Die.

GHAZALI CUP CLASS V DIV 1 1300M.

Run And Win 9-1, Charming King 8-12, Azam Love 8-10, Rough Tough 8-8, Aaja Bulbul 8-6, Little Legend 8-6, Decent Fella 8-5, Coming Chandiwala 8-5, Sohna Billoo 8-4 and Mubashara 8-4.

Win: Aaja Bulbul.

Place: Run And Win and Charming King.

NICL CUP 2007 CLASS IV DIV 11 &

111 1600M.

Kiss Of Luck 9-0, Byron 8-10, Sodagar 8-10, Miss Photogenic 8-8, Black House, 8-0, Wendy Trace 7-12, Don't Follow 7-10, Big Bird 7-10 and Puma The Great 7-8.

Win: Byron.

Place: Kiss Of Luck and Wendy Trace.

GHAZALI PLATE CLASS V

DIV 11 1300M.

Safe And Sound 9-0, Ministry 9-0, Tropical 9-0, Bold Act 9-0, Lucky Short 11 9-0, Ikon 9-0, Babbu The Great 8-12, Tornado 8-10 Hitler, 8-6 Cross Ruff 8-6, Shah Pari 8-6, Weldon 8-6, Tyson 8-6 and Scooby Do 8-6.

Win: Ikon or Cross Ruff. Place: Bold Act.