Brightdaysahead beats defending champion State Man in Morgiana

Before the Grade One race, Brighterdaysahead, trained by Gordon Elliott and owned by Gigginstown House Stud, had only been defeated once. She entered the race as a 9-4 favourite under jockey Jack Kennedy.

State Man, trained by Willie Mullins, was the strong favourite at 4-9 odds to win his third consecutive race. The expectation was he’d face competition from the lone mare in the field, given the absence of Lossiemouth.

Indeed, she immediately announced herself as a contender by setting the pace and led until the final flight of hurdles, where State Man closed in.

He briefly got his nose in front but that didn’t deter the favourite who dug deep to find a quick finish, winning by three-quarters of a length on the line.

The result saw her odds for the Champion Hurdle tumble from 14-1 before the race to 4-1 in the aftermath.

Kennedy said: “She is hopefully (a Champion Hurdle horse), and she had to do it the hard way there as well today.

“To be honest, I think she hated it out in front.

“She did all the donkey work and she was very tough. State Man came and laid down his challenge, and she didn’t lie down to him so that was great.

“I had an idea they were going to try and keep it steady, so I just had to go and make the running on her. It didn’t suit her, but it worked out.

“We’ll see what the lads say what the plan is. She would have had to do that today anyway (to go for the Champion Hurdle) and thankfully she did.

“She’s improving away the whole time. I think she will have learned plenty today as well and it might make her kind of grow up a bit more, having to go and do it.”

Elliott was also thrilled with her performance: “I know she had race fitness, but I thought it was a good performance,” he said.

“Everything went wrong for her because she was on her own in front. She would be better with a lead.”

He continued: “We knew two miles would be a bit short for her, but she had race fitness and we had to make use of it. She was idling in front and wasn’t doing a stroke so you would have to be happy.

“She is having a good blow so there is plenty of improvement in her. She’s a good mare.

“The Mares’ Hurdle is probably the race made for her, but we’ll see what happens.

“Leopardstown could be a bit sharp for her, but we’ll have a chat with Michael and Eddie (O’Leary, owners) and see what they would like to do.”