If Tuesday’s Hyderabad card were a cocktail, it would be mostly soda with a faint memory of spirit.

Prasad Raju’s Great Chevalier, after two polite appearances when the race was already wrapped and gift-boxed by others, realised the virtue of an early attempt. In the 1600 metres Telangana Plate, the four-year-old arrived on time, did the needful, and spared connections another round of philosophical explanations. Jockey Neeraj Rawal kept matters blissfully uncomplicated, parked him in striking range, pressed the button, and watched him gallop away like a horse who had discovered urgency.

Reigning Beauty swooped late to snatch second from NRI Superpower, while Truth, lugging 65 kilos and perhaps a few existential doubts, made up ground to finish on the board.

Corte Madera, once whispered about in classic tones under the late Leo D’Silva, continues to honour those whispers by ensuring they remain firmly in the past. Backed again in the 1800 metres Khammam Plate, he produced another educational run, which is a polite way of saying he stayed on without ever threatening to do anything dramatic. Andre, clearly not interested in scripts or sentiment, swept past with authority and won with refreshing decisiveness, leaving Corte Madera to collect second ahead of Pride Aside.

Konaseema attracted strong support in the Medchal Plate but ran like someone stuck in traffic while Arthisha took the express lane. The latter dashed clear with disarming ease, while the favourite struggled to find rhythm, let alone relevance. Onslaught completed the frame without causing any upheaval.

Greif, expected to notch up a hat-trick in the Brave Hunter Plate, discovered that racing occasionally involves other horses with similar ambitions. In a tight three-horse finish, she found herself outpaced at the crucial moment and settled for third. Ayushmaan, under Kuldeep Singh, showed far more enthusiasm for the job and carried it through, with Emerald Touch making a late bid for second.

Favourites, in general, had a trying afternoon. Advait, the short-priced hope in the Rising Star Plate, ran like a promise that expired mid-race, allowing The Last Avtar to improve smartly and score with authority. Excalibur finished on for third, while an objection involving She’s A Bomb was about as effective as shouting into the wind.

Catchme If You Can, backed as though defeat had been outlawed, at least justified the confidence in the Business Tycoon Plate, winning without fuss under Anthony Raj. Sadiya ran on for second, with Smart Boy third, all very orderly and devoid of drama.

The finale, the Malvado Plate, stayed true to the day’s theme. Noorian, clearly uninterested in suspense, took charge early and sprinted away in the straight to win with ease. Dhanadeep, despite strong support, arrived late to the party, while Iconic Star edged into third, ensuring the result had just enough movement to keep the form students awake.