AIDAN O’Brien and Ado McGuinness provide Irish runners on a richly-endowed card to be run at Al Rayyan racecourse in Doha, Qatar, today.

Point Lonsdale lines up with an inside draw against 10 opponents for the international Group 3 H.H. The Amir Trophy over 12 furlongs on turf. Ryan Moore is in the saddle on the five-year-old son of Australia who was third on his most recent start in November. That was in the Group 2 Bahrain International Trophy when he was a head behind Israr, whom he meets again.

Jim Crowley is confident of a good showing from the Shadwell-owned Israr, a son of Muhaarar and Taghrooda, who is ideally drawn in six. The five-year-old is stepping up to a mile and a half, but Thady Gosden feels he has done well since Bahrain, and will be suited by the left-handed track.

William Buick is in the saddle on the 2022 Breeders’ Cup winner Rebel’s Romance, who won a listed race over today’s trip on the all-weather at Kempton in December. However, he will be running from a less-favourable draw in 10. The Charlie Appleby-trained Godolphin has only one outside him, the top-rated of three challengers from Japan, Zeffiro. The Shadai Farm colt is making his reappearance having finished runner-up in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase.

The Irish-bred Russian Emperor, a Group 3 winner for Aidan O’Brien at Royal Ascot in 2020 and now a multiple Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, is back to defend his title, having won the race a year ago when it had listed status. He needs to recapture his best form to win this. Godolphin is also represented by the Saeed bin Suroor runner Passion And Glory.

In addition to the top-rated Zeffiro, Japan has two other challengers, both drawn well. Connections North Bridge is a Group 2 winner, while Satono Glanz ran a nice trial when third over the trip in a Group 2 at Kyoto in mid-January.

Three Qatari runners face the international challenge. Hamad Al Jehani has two of them, and Alban de Mieulle the other, and all are owned by Wathnan Racing. The Qatar Derby winner Jeff Koons, an Irish-bred son of Frankel, has his first run since winning the Qatar Derby in December, and seems to be the best of that trio.

The meeting today opens with the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup, and this looks to be an ideal opportunity for last year’s Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Cairo to regain his winning ways. Archie Watson’s Brave Emperor will test him.

Ronan Whelan is in the plate as Ado McGuinness’ Go Athletico aims to continue his good form in the Durkhan Sprint.

The Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes winner Orne should give Al Shaqab victory in the Al Rayyan Mile. The Rathbarry-bred son of Acclamation is trained by John and Thady Gosden.