August 17 / 16.00 Curragh

16.00

Good

Shoda Market Cafe Royal Whip Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £28217.39
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • 6 runners
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Shoda Market Cafe Royal Whip Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.58
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 2115-5 C BF

Last run: 56 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Enjoyed a really fine campaign last season, winning the Great Voltigeur and the St Leger before finishing a very respectable fifth in the Arc; raced too keenly on his reappearance in the Hardwicke Stakes; the drop back to this trip is not ideal but no surprise if he was ridden more forward and has a clear edge on ratings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(3)

26th Jul 2025

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

16:10 Ascot

Continuous

9st 9lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Won the St Leger and fifth in the Arc in 2023 but has failed to repeat the form since and is reduced to pacemaking duties these days; as in the Coronation Cup two starts ago, looks set to cut out the fractions for stablemate Jan Brueghel before eventually being swallowed up.

125/1

8th

3

(7)

18th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Continuous

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

2023 was his heyday, when winning the St Leger and fifth in the Arc; career has taken some disappointing turns since last autumn and he could be set for a front-running role at a big price today, as on his last two starts.

100/1

4

(4)

6th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

14:40 Epsom

Continuous

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Ended his 2023 campaign with a success in the St Leger and good effort in the Arc; modest strike-rate since and has become inconsistent too; possibly in here as pacemaker for stablemate Jan Brueghel.

66/1

OUR TIP

Form: 114-12 CD

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Has quietly built into a Group class performer this season, particularly after winning a Tramore maiden hurdle by landing a Gowran conditions race for the second year and running subsequent Gordon Stakes winner Jan Breughel to a neck in a Group 3 over C&D in June; could well be better with an ease in the ground but cannot be dismissed here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(1)

23rd May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 4f 0y

13:55 Curragh

Trustyourinstinct

9st 12lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Good form early last season, recording back-to-back wins here in today's event and Group 3 International Stakes over 1m2f; subsequent Leopardstown efforts were below best below best, as was last month's seasonal return here in 1m2f Group 3 Alleged Stakes dominated by two stablemates; entitled to come on for that.

13/2

7th

1

(2)

19th Apr 2026

Soft

1m 2f 0y

15:35 Curragh

Trustyourinstinct

9st 8lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Good form early last season, notably recording back-to-back wins at this venue in a Listed 1m4f contest and Group 3 International Stakes over this trip; below best when attempting a repeat of his 2024 Group 3 win at Leopardstown's Irish Champions meeting; well beaten at the same venue on final start.

8/1

1

(7)

19th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 2f 0y

15:26 Leopardstown

Trustyourinstinct

9st 12lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Better than ever this term, recording back-to-back wins at the Curragh in Listed contest and 1m2f Group 3 International Stakes when never stronger than at finish; below best however when attempting repeat win in last month's Group 3 CMG Group Stakes here (1m4f) so needs to bounce back; big player if he does.

11/4

Form: 16-455 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Group race winner last season; highly tried this season and arguably failed to stay 1m4f in the Oaks and the Irish Oaks; this trip could be the key to her and could have a big chance if effective on this better ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

(17)

13th Oct 2024

Yielding

1m 3f 214y

15:25 Naas

Caught U Looking

9st 2lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Noel Meade

Top rated 3yo is well treated by the conditions of this race; cracking run when fifth in the Irish Oaks in July; filled the same position in the Epsom Oaks; not beaten far in a pair of Group 3s and a Group 2 on her last three starts over 9.5f-10f; goes back up in distance now and is dropped in class; leading claims if seeing out this trip.

100/30

3rd

6

(10)

21st Sep 2024

Good

1m 1f 100y

16:01 Gowran Park

Caught U Looking

9st 2lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Noel Meade

prominent

4/1

4th

6

(10)

15th Sep 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

14:25 Curragh

Caught U Looking

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Noel Meade

raced in second, lost second under 2f out, no extra final 110yds

12/1

Form: /67364 C

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Beresford Stakes winner in 2022 for Michael O'Callaghan; well exposed in top company this season and again when dropped in class at Leopardstown last week; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

2

(7)

25th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

1m 0f 50y

16:25 Limerick

Crypto Force

10st 0lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Robson De Aguiar

Classy 2yo won a three runner race Gowran last July, his third win on turf; has failed to fire since and was never sighted in the Irish Lincolnshire last time, although heavy ground may not have suited; sliding mark but others appeal more.

16/1

13th

9

(25)

15th Mar 2026

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

16:20 Curragh

Crypto Force

9st 0lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Robson De Aguiar

Smart juvenile in 2022, winner of the Group 2 Beresford Stakes; has come down in the world in recent seasons and has been competing over longer trips on AW; makes little appeal despite career-low mark.

25/1

5th

2

(3)

27th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 2f 150y

19:00 Dundalk (AW)

Crypto Force

9st 6lb

J: Mikey Sheehy

T: Robson De Aguiar

One of two for yard; sole win last season came in three-runner Gowran conditions race (9.5f); two middling efforts in handicaps since joining this yard, including a fourth behind Gaucher in December; last year's winner Dallas Star has better claims.

12/1

25/1

Form: 818336 C

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Nice performance to win the Tetrarch Stakes here in May but well held in Group company since; uphill task here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(4)

20th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 0f 0y

14:25 Leopardstown

Bright Stripes

9st 9lb

J: W J Lee

T: A Oliver

prominent, soon went third, outpaced and lost third over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, lost fourth towards finish

7/1

9th

3

(8)

27th Sep 2024

Standard

1m 2f 150y

19:15 Dundalk (AW)

Bright Stripes

9st 5lb

J: W J Lee

T: A Oliver

Top rated in here at 107; running well in higher grades on his last few starts; his last try in Listed company resulted in victory at the Curragh (1m, soft); was only beaten 3.5l in a Group 2 on latest and he has to hold big claims here if handling the surface on AW debut.

5/1

7th

9

(1)

14th Sep 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

14:15 Leopardstown

Bright Stripes

9st 5lb

J: W J Lee

T: A Oliver

midfield, headway towards far side over 1f out, no impression final 110yds

66/1

Form: 6-4695

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Won last season's Kensington Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot; ninth of 24 in this year's edition; placed only once in ten attempts in stakes races; well held in fifth in a Listed at Pontefract last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(1)

17th Aug 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

16:00 Curragh

Villanova Queen

9st 6lb

J: Scott McCullagh

T: Mrs John Harrington

Won last season's Kensington Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot; ninth of 24 in this year's edition; placed only once in ten attempts in stakes races; well held in fifth in a Listed at Pontefract last month.

50/1

5th

9

(4)

9th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 6y

Class 1

15:10 Pontefract

Villanova Queen

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Mrs John Harrington

Irish mare; finished behind Doha and Elim when bidding for a second win in the Kensington Palace at Ascot; now meets those rivals on better terms but is comparatively exposed.

11/2

Non-runners

Tarawa

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €3.50
Straight Forecast €3.37
Trifecta €5.50

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Continuous

SPOTLIGHT:

Caught U Looking

TOPSPEED:

Continuous

POSTDATA:

Continuous

The Irish Sun:

Continuous