Halford is hoping to finish the Ballydoyle dominance

TRAINER Michael Halford is ‘very excited’ to see what Rehana can do in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh this afternoon as he aims to prevent an Aidan O’Brien clean sweep of the English and Irish Guineas races.

The daughter of Dark Angel mixed it with the very best of her generation as a juvenile, claiming the notable scalp of Friday’s Oaks favourite Rhododendron when breaking her maiden tag last summer, before sound efforts in the Debutante Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

She kicked off the new campaign with a creditable effort in the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial – finishing less than a length behind Newmarket Guineas heroine Winter – and showed the benefit of that run when dominating her rivals in the Athasi Stakes at Naas at the start of May.

Halford said: ‘Fingers crossed everything has gone to plan, we’ve had a great run with her lately.

‘It was nice to see her previous form with Winter boosted but now we have to go and try to beat her.

‘She’s progressed this season and is a lot stronger. She loves good ground and is in great form. We’re very excited. She’s a good couple of lengths better on good ground.’

Winter is one of four runners for O’Brien as he chases a seventh victory in this one-mile Classic.

Hydrangea beat Winter and Rehana (above) at Leopardstown in early April, but disappointed in Newmarket and O’Brien has reached for the cheekpieces.

The Ballydoyle handler also saddles Asking and Roly Poly, and said: ‘Winter has done well since Newmarket and is really thriving. She progressed from her first run to Newmarket and we think she has progressed again. We were disappointed with Hydrangea at Newmarket, and hopefully she will come back and run better.’

The Joseph O’Brientrained Intricately won the Moyglare last September and was fourth in the aforementioned Leopardstown Guineas trial, but was another who failed to fire on the Rowley Mile three weeks ago.

Aneen is a fascinating contender for veteran trainer Kevin Prendergast, while Jim Bolger – after a double at the Curragh yesterday – completes the line-up with Bean Feasa.