Halford’s Rehana is ready to go to Town in feature

DROP IN DISTANCE WILL SUIT 106-RATED FILLY

UNPLACED in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas last time, the Michael Halford-trained Rehana looks the one to beat in the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes, feature of tonight’s Fairyhouse card. The Dark Angel filly was sent off 6/1 second favourite for the classic in May but, having run keenly, she dropped out of contention with more than a furlong to race and finished a well-beaten fifth (before being demoted to sixth) behind Winter, a dual Guineas winner before landing Royal Ascot’s Coronation Stakes. But Rehana’s Guineas run is probably best forgotten. And she is better judged on her impressive defeat of Rose De Pierre in the Group 3 Athasi Stakes in Naas on May 1, her fourth placings in both the Debutante and Moyglare as a two-year-old or her close third to Hydrangea on her seasonal debut in a Guineas trial at Leopardstown. Rehana will wear a hood for the first time tonight, a move which has helped her to settle in her home-work. And, also helped by the drop back to seven furlongs, this 106-rated filly should be tough to beat. The biggest threat to Shane Foley’s mount will probably come from British challengers Golden Stunner, representing Ralph Beckett, and Realtra, disappointing last time but a definite danger on earlier form for Roger Varian, who struck at Group 1 level at the Curragh on Sunday. On the supporting card, Senkari Royale, a promising fifth behind Sometimes a diamond and subsequent winner and Group 3 runner-up Butterscotch on her debut on this track, looks another likely juvenile winner for Johnny Murtagh, inset, in the Foran Equine-sponsored two-year-old auction race for fillies. Elsewhere, Aidan O’brien will target Grade 1 prizes in America on Saturday, with White cliffs of dover( Wayne Lordan) and Homesman (Colm O’donoghue) set to contest the Belmont Derby and Key To My Heart, winner of the recent Naas Oaks Trials, set to take her chance in the Belmont Oaks, with Lordan in the saddle.

HARD TO OPPOSE Michael Halford trained Rehana will take all the beating this evening’s 6.50 in Fairyhouse