Gordon Elliott’s rising star Brighterdaysahead is more likely to line up for the December Hurdle at Leopardstown subsequent, however the Mares’ Hurdle route nonetheless appears to beckon come Cheltenham.
The five-year-old has been crushed solely as soon as in 9 runs underneath guidelines, when second to Golden Ace on the Competition final season, and out of doors of that loss has a formidable report over journeys various from two miles to 2 miles and 5 furlongs.
She signed off final season with a Group One win within the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, and this time period took the Grade Three Bottlegreen Hurdle at Down Royal earlier than claiming a notable scalp within the form of State Man when touchdown the Morgiana.
Leopardstown’s December Hurdle on the twenty eighth is her supposed subsequent begin, with the Mares’ Hurdle then trying the extra tempting avenue on the Cheltenham Competition, regardless of her defeat of the reigning Champion Hurdle hero.
“She’s in at Leopardstown, she’s within the two and the three mile (races). The plan is 2 however we by no means say by no means, so we’ll depart her in every thing and have a chat with Michael and Eddie (O’Leary, house owners) and see what we do,” Elliott advised Sky Sports activities Racing.
Brighterdaysahead (left) defeating State Man (Damian Eagers/PA)
“I’d think about we’ll head for the two-mile race, we’ll should tackle State Man once more and he’d be very laborious to beat, nevertheless it’s the apparent route for us to go after which onto the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, all being nicely.”
Of his reasoning for favouring the Mares’ Hurdle, the coach singled out the Willie Mullins-trained present Champion Hurdle co-favourite Lossiemouth.
He stated: “There’s a mare referred to as Lossiemouth…I’m a giant believer in working within the races you may win.
“If I’m at Cheltenham on the Tuesday after successful the Mares’ Hurdle and she or he received 10 lengths and one thing occurred to Lossiemouth or State Man, you’d be a bit disenchanted – however on the similar time, the best race for her appears the Mares’ Hurdle.
“We don’t actually understand how good she is, she doesn’t do something at house and she or he doesn’t even do something fancy in a race however she simply retains successful and she or he’s acquired a giant coronary heart – you’d have to like her.”
Elliott additionally trains the similarly-named Higher Days Forward, who received his first begin of the time period when defeating Slade Metal on his chase debut and can head for the Lengthy Distance Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Boxing Day.
A taking efficiency from Higher Days Forward on Chasing debut, touchdown the Race And Keep @IrishEBF_ Novices Chase in complete trend 👏@jackkennedy15 | @gelliott_racing pic.twitter.com/JyJ578tTuX
— Navan Racecourse (@NavanRacecourse) November 17, 2024
“He’ll go for the three-miler at Leopardstown, he did it very nicely in Navan the final day,” the coach stated of his Cheltenham Competition scorer.
“The Martin Pipe is a good stepping stone for these horses and he seemed a giant chaser within the making. We’ll go for the three miles in Leopardstown and hope the bottom received’t be too fast.”
A chaser not assured to look over Christmas is final season’s Gold Cup runner-up Gerri Colombe, who produced a below-par run when third within the Champion Chase at Down Royal in early November.
He now has a chunk of labor to do at house earlier than his entry within the Savills Chase is confirmed.
“He disenchanted me, to be trustworthy. He by no means took maintain of the bridle,” stated Elliott.
“We now have him in at Leopardstown at Christmas, I labored him on Sunday and he labored nicely, however I wouldn’t say he was simply there but.
Gerri Colombe successful the Bowl at Aintree (David Davies/PA)
“He’s doing one other bit of labor this week for me to be 100 per cent we’re going to go to Leopardstown, we’ll see how he goes later within the week.
“He was very disappointing and we’ve simply acquired to place a line by means of it and transfer ahead.”
To a far lesser extent, plans are nonetheless fluid for Discovered A Fifty, who will almost certainly stick on house turf for the Paddy’s Rewards Membership Chase, however does even have an entry for the King George at Kempton.
Elliott stated: “I feel we’ll go to Leopardstown for a two-mile chase. We’ll most likely depart him in at Kempton and decide nearer the time however I’m leaning in the direction of Leopardstown now.
“It’s 80-20 he’ll go to Leopardstown however by no means say by no means, we’ll depart him in there (at Kempton) and maintain all our choices open.”
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