New Cheltenham favourite has made me look silly - but I’d still prefer 10-1 about this other top British novice

Just when we were starting to think that Constitution Hill was very likely to be crowned again as the best two-mile hurdler at Cheltenham in March, Brighterdaysahead came up with a devastating performance at Leopardstown on Sunday. In doing so, she put herself bang in the picture for the Champion Hurdle, although my guess is that the Mares’ Hurdle, run on the same day, might still appeal more to connections.

The Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day was a true test, run at a proper and demanding pace. I have to admit I was initially surprised by Harry Cobden’s decision to go so hard right from the start on Burdett Road. I had thought his best chance of success might have been to slow the race down, gather the field together, and turn it into a sprint from the final bend. 

However, we should be thankful for his aggressive tactics, as the fast pace created an honest race in which every runner had to prove their worth. Lump Sum, for example, who had finished second to Sir Gino in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, simply couldn’t keep up with the relentless pace and ended up finishing a distant, tailed-off last.