Surely Brighterdaysahead has to end up in the Champion Hurdle

Three key takeaways from this week . . .

Golden Ace without doubt worth another chance

The winning run of Mares' Novices' Hurdle scorer Golden Ace may have come to an end when she was only fourth of five in the Howden Ascot Hurdle on Saturday, but she is definitely worth another chance.

Jeremy Scott's stable star was handed a notable pre-race form boost when Brighterdaysahead, who finished runner-up to Golden Ace at Cheltenham, lowered the colours of State Man in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

Golden Ace was sent off 2-1 favourite for the Ascot Grade 2 and travelled smoothly into contention. She looked the likeliest winner after jumping the second-last but could not put the race to bed and was ultimately beaten two lengths behind Lucky Place.

The six-year-old beat that rival by three-quarters of a length in a Taunton novice hurdle last season when in receipt of a stone, so there was no disgrace in this defeat on 10lb worse terms.

Golden Ace races as though she will be suited by a drop back to two miles and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton was mentioned as a possibility for the daughter of Golden Horn.

A step forward would be required in Grade 1 company, but she has the potential to be an each-way candidate at a track that should suit.
Jack Haynes

Brighterdaysahead must take advantage of open Champion Hurdle division

How do you beat this year's Champion Hurdle winner and not then be aimed at the Cheltenham Festival showpiece in March?

It would be interesting to see if a rematch between Brighterdaysahead and State Man, possibly with Lossiemouth added back in this time, over Christmas would produce the same result as Saturday's Morgiana Hurdle, or if race fitness really was the key to the mare's victory.

Brighterdaysahead (far side) claimed the notable scalp of State Man at Punchestown on SaturdayCredit: Patrick McCann

Even still, Brighterdaysahead's victory at Punchestown was thoroughly earned, and she has always been spoken of exceptionally highly by Gordon Elliott.

Indeed, the trainer himself brought up the Champion Hurdle as a possibility after her winning return at Down Royal, and the Morgiana was mooted as a fact-finding mission to learn where she stands within that division. So it was surprising to hear Elliott immediately talk up the Mares' Hurdle as her likely long-term aim, rather than the Champion, for which she is no bigger than 8-1 and as short as 4-1.

The Mares' Hurdle would undoubtedly be an easier target, but with the massive uncertainty around Constitution Hill and now State Man suffering a first defeat in Ireland since falling at Leopardstown in December 2021, the Champion Hurdle division is more open than anyone would have imagined this time last week.

It would be bitterly disappointing were Brighterdaysahead not to head down that route.
Sam Hendry

Galopin's dominance under threat

It always had the makings of an informative weekend in the Gold Cup division, with five of the first six in the ante-post market for the Cheltenham showpiece making their seasonal returns in either the Betfair Chase or the John Durkan. And both races delivered in spades.

Grey Dawning did not win the Betfair Chase but it was a mighty fine effort in attritional conditions at Haydock behind a horse in Royale Pagaille who relishes such a test.

The big question arising out of that is not ability, but how much of a mark the hard race will leave on the rest of the season. Bookmakers reacted by nudging out Grey Dawning, but he remains an intriguing contender.

However, they might all have a challenge to cope with the rapid rise of Fact To File, who won a pulsating John Durkan and is the new Gold Cup favourite.

Galopin Des Champs gave Paul Townend a great spin on his return and will be better back over further, but Fact To File, who did not run over hurdles and was having just his fifth start over fences, is a huge threat to his stablemate’s chances of landing a third Gold Cup.
Matt Butler