chased leaders in 3rd, pushed along in 4th 3f out, ridden in 5th 2f out, moderate 4th again 1f out, kept on without threatening to go 3rd close home
held up in last, ridden in 4th over 2f out, moderate 3rd 1f out, no impression and dropped to 4th close home
chased leaders in 4th, ridden in 3rd 3f out, 3rd 2f out, soon weakened, last 1f out, eased final furlong
chased leader in 2nd, improved to lead 2 1/2f out, ridden and clear 1f out, stayed on strongly, easily
led, clear early, reduced advantage 3f out, ridden and headed 2 1/2f out, kept on same pace in 2nd, not trouble winner
Qatari Hunter won four handicaps, two of them here, before running very well in a pair of Group 3 races. He hasn't been seen since September but his trainer should have him ready to roll. Roger Varian sends CENTRAL SQUARE from the UK and his overall form just about shades this. A close fourth behind Success Days, who won this last year, in the Group 2 Sky Bet Stakes at York, he'll appreciate the likely quicker ground and can get back to winning ways. Shamreen ended the last campaign with a Group 2 victory here in September but it's a concern that she had a very long break before finishing last here early last month. Reckless Gold hasn't had much racing and needs to step up from his Listed race defeat here in June while Massif Central has a mountain to climb.
Central Square (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Held up, driven and some headway over 2f out, no impression and one pace over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 4th post, no impression, 4th of 7, 3l behind Success Days (9-3) at York 1m 2f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Jul.
Qatari Hunter (IRE) 7-2 (9-3) Soon tracked leader in 2nd, closer in 2nd entering straight, driven under 2f out, ridden and dropped to 3rd over 1f out, kept on final furlong, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 8, 3/4l behind Long Island Sound (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 3f Grp 3 stks pol in Sep.
Reckless Gold (IRE) 6-1 (9-9) Settled 3rd, progress to 2nd 2 1/2f out, ridden under 2f out, no impression on leader, dropped to 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Glamorous Approach (9-4) at Curragh 1m 2f lst stks (1) Yielding in Jun.
Shamreen (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Held up disputing 5th, ridden in last 2f out, no impression, last of 6, 19 1/4l behind Johannes Vermeer (9-8) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Jul.
Massif Central (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Prominent early, ran freely, tracked leaders, short of room and lost place after 2f, 8th halfway, pushed along and some headway entering straight, ridden in 6th over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Ringside Support (9-5) at Curragh 1m 2f mdn gf in Jul.
