Brighterdaysahead to take hurdles route this term

Gordon Elliott’s star mare Brighterdaysahead will remain over hurdles this season.

The five-year-old was a beaten odds-on favourite in the mares’ novices’ hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but gained ample compensation when bolting up at Aintree against the boys in Grade One company.

Elliott and owner Gigginstown House Stud had been giving serious consideration to sending her over fences, but have now opted to remain over the smaller obstacles this term.

“We strongly considered sending her novice chasing, but the decision is made, and she’ll stay hurdling,” Elliott said, in a stable tour on www.attheraces.com.

“She’ll start back in the Jezki Hurdle at Down Royal on November 1. She looks to be an obvious candidate for the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in the longer term.

“We’ve never hidden how highly we regard her, and we can’t wait to get her back on the track. We think the world of her.”

Elliott also had news on his Stayers’ Hurdle winner Teahupoo, who will start off in the Hatton’s Grace and then be kept fresh for Cheltenham, while Gerri Colombe will follow the same route as last season, beginning in the Down Royal Champion Chase.