The seven-year-old mare Brighterdaysahead (13-8 Favourite) landed the Grade One William Hill Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles, defeating The New Lion (9-4) by two and a quarter lengths. Her success brought up a near 15-1 double for the combination of trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Jack Kennedy following the success of Mange Tout in the opener.
Gordon Elliott said: “This is probably her trip and she was awesome. I was nervous but it was kind of easy to watch and Jack was brilliant on her. It’s great for everyone at Gigginstown who have been massive supporters of mine, through thick and thin.
“She’s a good mare and that’s why she wins over two miles, but I think two and a half is probably her trip. I’d imagine she’s going to go chasing. She was supposed to go this year but she pulled a muscle and that’s why she didn’t.
“She hasn’t won at Cheltenham but she ran a great race there this year.”
Jack Kennedy added: “Unreal. I think that could be as good as she’s been. The extra half a mile suited her, a little bit of juice in the ground suited her and she was brilliant. I was happy the whole way - I was actually having to take her back everywhere, and she’s one that when you don’t have her fully switched off she can run with you a bit, but she was just doing everything so easy and I let her on at the back of the fourth last. Potters Corner had a slow jump and I winged it, and I was happy to take up the running there and she was good. She’s a great mare.”
Dan Skelton, trainer of runner-up The New Lion, said: “That was a fine run. He travelled well and jumped great bar the last, He just got under the last and that was that, our chance blown. It happens. I’m disappointed we didn’t get a clean jump at the last to give us our best chance of winning, but I'm not disappointed with how he’s run.
“We’ll have all the discussions before next season, but my inclination is that there’s unfinished business over hurdles.”
Joe Tizzard, trainer of the third Alexei, said: “Solid run. I think the Champion Hurdle form, take the winner out, is solid there. We got the trip - no complaints at all. He’s not in at Punchestown, we’re done now. What we’ll do next year is up for discussion a bit - it all depends on the owners, really. They’ve got Sober Glory as well, who might become a Champion Hurdle horse. I don’t think they’ll take each other on, anyway.”
