"We're going for the Champion" - Brighterdaysahead confirms Cheltenham target with Leopardstown win
At the Dublin Racing Festival, Brighterdaysahead secured an impressive win over Lossiemouth, solidifying her status as a contender for the 2026 Champion Hurdle. Gordon Elliott's decision to focus on her hurdling prospects paid off, as Jack Kennedy successfully navigated the race, bringing Brighterdaysahead her deserved recognition. While Lossiemouth faces repositioning within the competing races, Brighterdaysahead stands strong with improved odds. Her standout performance assures her place among top favorites, as the betting landscape for the 2026 Champion Hurdle takes a new turn.
- Brighterdaysahead wins against Lossiemouth at Dublin Racing Festival
- Gordon Elliott targets the Champion Hurdle for Brighterdaysahead
- Betting odds shift with new favorites before 2026 Champion Hurdle
Brighterdaysahead has laid down a market for the 2026 Champion Hurdle, after striking at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Having planned to send his star mare over fences at the start of the season, Gordon Elliott shelved plans to go novice chasing before Christmas, and ran Brighterdaysahead in the December Hurdle. Jack Kennedy's mount ran a cracker on her seasonal reappearance, but had to settle for second behind the impressive Lossiemouth.
In the build-up to Sunday's rematch at the Dublin Racing Festival, Gordon Elliott was convinced that his mare would improve for that Christmas return. Yet, all of the late money came for Lossiemouth, who was cut into 4/6 before the off.
Jack Kennedy decided to track the pace-setting El Fabiolo, with Lossiemouth positioned a few lengths adrift in third. On the approach to the second-last, the two mares swamped El Fabiolo, who dropped away tamely and left the market leaders to fight out the finish.
Swinging for home, Lossiemouth took aim at Brighterdaysahead. However, it was soon apparent that the odds-on favourite didn't have much left in the tank, and Kennedy punched the air as Brighterdaysahead claimed another Grade One win.
"She's a great mare." Gordon Elliott said to ITV Racing after the feature. "We knew she'd improve from the last day. It's great, I'm absolutely thrilled."
"When Lossiemouth came to us at the second-last, I thought that we were in trouble, but Jack (Kennedy) had a plan in his head, so happy days, we're delighted."
When pressed as to which race Brighterdaysahead would head for at the Cheltenham Festival, Gordon Elliott gave a short, emphatic answer.
"I'd say we're going for the Champion (Hurdle)."
Like the winner, Lossiemouth is entered in both the Champion Hurdle and the Mares' Hurdle. With State Man out injured, it's seemed all season like Willie Mullins would have to run Lossiemouth in the feature race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. Yet, after Sunday's defeat, Mullins has a ready-made excuse to send his nine-time Grade One winner back to the Mares' Hurdle, a race she's won in the previous two seasons.
Sir Gino's injury on Trials Day blew the betting for the 2026 Champion Hurdle wide open, and Sunday's Irish Champion Hurdle has done the same. Lossiemouth has drifted out to 5/1 with bet365, who list The New Lion as their 2/1 favourite.
Brighterdaysahead is now the 5/2 second-favourite, despite a dismal effort in the same race 12 months ago. Constitution Hill - who runs on the flat at Southwell later this month - is available at 9/2.
2026 Champion Hurdle betting with bet365
2/1 The New Lion, 5/2 Brighterdayesahead, 9/2 Constitution Hill, 5/1 Lossiemouth, 7/1 Golden Ace, 16/1 Ballyburn, 20/1 Bar
2026 Champion Hurdle betting with bet365
2/1 The New Lion, 5/2 Brighterdayesahead, 9/2 Constitution Hill, 5/1 Lossiemouth, 7/1 Golden Ace, 16/1 Ballyburn, 20/1 Bar
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