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O'Leary leaves Aintree option open for Brighterdaysahead
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Wed 19 Mar 2025
There is a “small chance” Brighterdaysahead will contest the William Hill Aintree Hurdle, as connections eye an immediate bounce back from her Champion Hurdle disappointment.
Gordon Elliott and owners Gigginstown House Stud dared for greatness at Prestbury Park when after two thrilling victories over State Man on home soil they pitched their star mare into a mouthwatering Champion Hurdle.
What unfolded had to be seen to be believed with both the heavy favourite Constitution Hill and defending champion State Man falling and Brighterdaysahead failing to give her true running and wilting tamely in the home straight, as Jeremy Scott’s Golden Ace scorched to victory in the day one feature.
Brighterdaysahead on the gallops at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)
It was the second time Brighterdaysahead had failed to sparkle at the Cheltenham Festival, but she could be given the chance of immediate redemption before the season ends.
“Hopefully we have found something that might have caused her to run poorly, hopefully she is over that now and that just wasn’t her, it was an odd run,” said Gigginstown’s Eddie O’Leary.
“We’ll have to see what happens and there is a small chance she will make Liverpool.
“The Champion Hurdle run just wasn’t her and from the word go she just wasn’t happy. We’re happy enough there was a small issue so hopefully we have that sorted out now.”
Brighterdaysahead thrived at Aintree last year (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)
Brighterdaysahead silenced the doubters with a dazzling display on Grand National day last year and a liking for racing left-handed makes a step up in trip at Aintree to race over the same course-and-distance she relished 12 months ago the preferred option.
“She is better off going left-handed. If it’s not Liverpool she will have to go the other way round at Punchestown,” continued O’Leary.
“It would be in the two-and-a-half-mile race at Liverpool. We’d prefer to go left-handed, but it would be up to her. If she’s well and flying again then that’s grand, but if not we can go to Punchestown.”
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