Brighterdaysahead To Take On Constitution Hill At Cheltenham
As the 2025 Cheltenham Festival draws closer, one of the biggest questions that had been hanging in the air has been answered.
Brighterdaysahead has been confirmed as a runner in this year's Champion Hurdle, where she will meet the unbeaten superstar, Constitution Hill.
The high-class mare has only been beaten once in her career, and her performances this season have led many to believe that she should take her chance in the race instead of the Mares hurdle.
That has now been confirmed by trainer Gordon Elliott, and here we look at his stable star's season so far and her current odds with betting sites for her clash with the former Champion Hurdle champion.
Cheltenham Festival Record To Be Set Straight
Brighterdaysahead arrived at the Cheltenham Festival last year on a five-race winning streak.
She was sent off the 5/6 favourite to win the Mares Novice's Hurdle, but she failed to get the better of Golden Ace on the run-in, who landed a surprise win for Jeremy Scott's stable.
The Gigginstown House stud mare made amends at the Aintree Grand National meeting in the Grade One Turner's Mersey Novice's Hurdle.
The Kapgarde mare made no mistake this time as she showed a useful field a clean pair of heels to win by seven and a half lengths.
Many people thought she would be sent novice chasing this year, but connections decided to stay over the smaller obstacles, and she has not disappointed.
A Stellar Season So Far
The six-year-old started the season off in impressive fashion by winning the Bottlegreen Hurdle at Down Royal, where she beat King of Kingsfield and Daddy Long Legs with ease.
That victory prompted connections to have a crack at the Grade One Unibet Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November.
Brighterdaysahead was sent off the 9/4 second-favourite to beat the reigning Champion Hurdle winner State Man, and despite jumping left on occasions, she showed a fantastic attitude to out-battle him to win another Grade One.
She then followed up that victory with a scintillating display at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Sam Ewing quickly took up the running, and the race was over at half-way as she came home on the bridle to beat Winter Fog by 30 lengths with State Man back in third.
What Are The Odds Update?
On the best horse racing betting sites, Brighterdaysahead has been shortened into a price of 2/1 for the Champion Hurdle, while she remains at 8/15 to win the Mares Hurdle if connections should change their minds.
Constitution Hill is still an odds-on favourite on betting apps to regain his title at 8/11, while Lossiemouth, who is 4/5 for the Mares Hurdle, is now 6/1 for the Champion Hurdle.
Jack Kennedy is back from injury just in time for the Festival and is set to ride the mare.
The Irishman has made a miraculous return to action, and he is now priced at 16/1 in the Cheltenham top jockey odds this year.
What Connections Had To Say
"After discussing it with Michael and Eddie [O'Leary] we're going to go for the Champion Hurdle with Brighterdaysahead.
"None of us have won the Champion Hurdle before and we feel this is probably our best chance yet. Jack Kennedy has always been her biggest fan and he will ride her."
Elliott also gave an update on the mare herself: "The mare is in mighty form and I couldn't be any happier with her.
"She has pleased me every step of the way since Leopardstown at Christmas and she has even filled out and strengthened up a lot since you saw her last.
"She's a really powerful mare now and we feel she deserves to take her chance in the big one."
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