Qatar Airways Royal Whip Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 2m 11.44s

(1)

Central Square^p1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Colin Keane| T: R Varian| OR: 107| D

6/4

No win in four starts this year but running well just the same, solid effort latest in York Group 2 over 1m2½f (good to soft) and ought to go close sporting first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 13-3094

(5)

Qatari Hunter³²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 107| CD

5/1

Won four of six turf starts last year, ascending the handicap ranks in doing so. Just shy at Group 3 level (2L behind Ulysses) last July but off 324 days now and that tempers enthusiasm slightly, market will be informative.

Form: 111144-

(3)

Reckless Gold^p1⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 101| C

3/1

Talented sort but only has a maiden to show from six starts, held in Listed company over C&D when last spotted and needs cheekpieces to have positive effect now.

Form: 32/18-63

(4)

Shamreen^b1⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P J Smullen| T: D K Weld| OR: 107| CD

11/4

A Group 2 winner on final start last season, the Dubawi filly was not at her best in C&D Group 3 here last month on her return.. The Weld team were struggling then, but are flying now and she cannot be underestimated in first-time blinkers as such.

Form: 11241-6

(2)

Massif Central²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: S Foley| T: J J Murphy| OR: 86

33/1

Stuck to the task well over C&D in maiden last time when coming home in fourth, will need to show new levels of ability to get involved in the shake-up for this pot.

Form: 232-044

Forecasts

Central Square (6/4), Shamreen (11/4), Reckless Gold (3/1), Qatari Hunter (5/1), Massif Central (33/1)

British raider Central Square just about sets the standard here on the back of a decent effort in a York Group 2 last time. With cheekpieces now tried, he should run a big race but might find that SHAMREEN proves a tough nut to crack. Winner of a fillies' Group 2 over C&D last summer, she may have needed the run last month on reappearance and with her master-trainer now having emerged from a well-documented drought (29% strike rate previous fortnight), she can grab this prize. If fit enough to himself justice, Qatari Hunter appeals most of the remainder but he has been off a long while.