Brighterdaysahead will run in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, says trainer Gordon Elliott 2z4js

Star mare Brighterdaysahead will take her chance in the Champion Hurdle at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

Connections have opted for the big-time after months of deliberation, contemplating if they should take a penalty kick in the Mares’ Hurdle or try and land the coveted Champion Hurdle prize.

The six-year-old firmly put her hat in the ring with a gutsy win over reigning Champion Hurdler State Man in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November, where she was headed going over the final flight before battling back in the closing stages.

The dream was officially realised when a perfectly-executed set-up by pacemaker and stablemate King Of Kingsfield in the Grade 1 December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas saw Brighterdaysahead finish an incredible 31 lengths ahead of State Man in the rematch.

Brighterdaysahead’s only career defeat came in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival and hindsight has shown that was simply a freak accident, perhaps unsuited by the run of the race and pipped to the finish in a sprint.

Trainer Gordon Elliott has made it no secret he believes Brighterdaysahead possesses his best ever chance at landing the race, more so than 11-time Grade 1 winner Apple’s Jade who was sent off a 7/4 favourite in the 2019 renewal before finishing sixth.

Elliott is adamant his stable star has a significantly higher cruising speed than Apple’s Jade and if the same tactics are employed as seen at Christmas, she will surely hold every chance.

Cullentra stable jockey Jack Kennedy is set to return from a horrific leg break at Leopardstown on Monday and will be given the chance to redeem last year’s heartbreak with Sam Ewing setting the fractions on King Of Kingsfield.

As per the best horse racing betting sites in the UK, Brighterdaysahead is a general 2/1 chance to win the Champion Hurdle on the first day of racing at Cheltenham next week.

Nicky Henderson‘s Constitution Hill – widely regarded as one of the greatest hurdlers of all-time and a wide-margin winner of this race in 2023 – ought to be a tough nut to crack if at the top of his game but after a series of health battles over the last year, he still has it all to prove.

📊 Timeform’s weight-adjusted ratings ahead of the Champion Hurdle:

𝟭𝟴𝟴 Constitution Hill
𝟭𝟴𝟱 Brighterdaysahead https://t.co/iMeAaycJQ9 pic.twitter.com/EqJT4smlik

— Timeform (@Timeform) March 3, 2025

Willie Mullins is likely to field two in the form of State Man and Lossiemouth, both of whom arrive with flawed preparation following the former’s laboured victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle where the latter suffered a heavy fall four from home.

Elliott told the Racing Post:

“After discussing it with Michael and Eddie [O’Leary] we’re going to go for the Champion Hurdle with Brighterdaysahead. None of us have won the Champion Hurdle before and we feel this is probably our best chance yet. Jack Kennedy has always been her biggest fan and he will ride her.

“The mare is in mighty form and I couldn’t be any happier with her. She has pleased me every step of the way since Leopardstown at Christmas and she has even filled out and strengthened up a lot since you saw her last. She’s a really powerful mare now and we feel she deserves to take her chance in the big one. 

“Shane McCann who rides her out every day is very happy and, touch wood, her preparation for Cheltenham has gone very smoothly.”

WATCH: Brighterdaysahead impresses with 30-length victory in December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown 723r4n