THE first meaningful classic trials of the season looked promising for Aidan and Joseph O’Brien as they mopped up all three stakes races on offer, which featured a fine display from the former’s Hydrangea in the Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes.

A quartet of fillies who had been placed at the highest level last year lined up in this seven-furlong Group 3 and the race looked a Guineas trial of real quality. Hydrangea, who was only beaten a short-head in the Moyglare Stakes before filling the runner-up spot in the Fillies Mile, duly recorded a well deserved first success at pattern level.