Brighterdaysahead takes down State Man in thrilling Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown

With concerns that the trip might be on the sharp side for the five-year-old, it was an unsurprising move from Kennedy, but his mount jumped a little to her left throughout and conceded ground doing so.

Despite doing that, she had State Man in trouble as they turned for home, but that fellow hasn’t amassed a brilliant record without having an attitude to match his class, and it appeared as though he had worn her down going to the final flight.

Under strong pressure but marginally in front approaching the hurdle, and trading at 1-9 on the exchanges, State Man was untidy, whereas Brighterdayshead jumped it well, had forward momentum on landing, and she pulled out all the stops to prevail by three parts of a length, the pair considerably clear of the remainder.

Bookmakers reacted by cutting the winner to as short as 4-1 for the Champion Hurdle in March, while extending the odds of the runner-up and reigning champ out to the same price. Despite her non-appearance, Lossiemouth was promoted to the head of the market, though her price varies from 15-8 to 5-2.

“There was probably no secret about what we thought of her but so it’s nice for her to go and do that today,” said Kennedy. “She had to do it the hard way. She didn’t really enjoy it in front and when State Man came to her, she really knuckled down, and probably outbattled him.” 

Thinking ahead and considering the prospect of Brighterdaysahead being a genuine Champion Hurdle contender, he added: “I had that in my own head after Aintree last year, but I probably didn’t really make it known to Gordon, but I was fully on board with it.

Brighterdaysahead wins the battle with State Man in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown under a superb ride by Jack Kennedy! 👏@unibet |@jackkennedy15 |@gelliott_racing | @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/AhEtCiIDw3

— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) November 23, 2024

“She had to go and do that today to be a Champion Hurdle mare, and she’s going to have to improve again, but hopefully she’s going the right way. Going the other way and with a lead, coming off a strong pace, that’s when you’ll see the best of her.” 

Victory proved to be the middle leg of a treble for Elliott and Kennedy, the first leg of which came from Stellar Story in the Grade Two Boodles Florida Pearl Novice Chase. Despite just three runners, all trained by Elliott and owned by Gigginstown House Stud, it provided a thrilling finish as odds-on favourite Stellar Story, who made a hash of the sixth-last fence, did just enough to deny the rallying Search For Glory.

Binge Worthy’s late charge to victory in the Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Qualifier Handicap Hurdle completed the 46-1 three-timer.

Last season’s leading novice hurdler, Ballyburn, made his chasing debut in the Conway Piling Beginners’ Chase and he produced as much as could be expected.

Yes, the customary keenness was there and his jumping wasn’t entirely flawless, but the scope is there, the engine is at least as good as ever, and he produced this display despite having Dee Capo keeping him honest for much of the trip. With the inevitable eye on Cheltenham, he was shortened to 6-4 in places for the Arkle Chase, and to 4-1 for the Brown Advisory.

“He did things very well and took a good blow during the race,” said winning trainer Willie Mullins. “A lot of ours are running that way and it was a worry going out, but he jumped from fence to fence. I was very pleased, and I think Paul was very pleased too.” 

Earlier on the card, Henry de Bromhead saddled two promising sorts to take the opening races. French import Its Bilbo, sent off the 7-4 favourite, took the juvenile hurdle by showing a good attitude to prevail in a well-contested finish and, as one would expect of a horse from this stable, he looks every inch a chaser in the making.

Similar comments could apply to the John Magnier-owned Butch Cassidy as he completed the de Bromhead-Darragh O’Keeffe 10-1 double with a hard-fought victory over the equally promising Sermandzarak in the Sebden Steel Maiden Hurdle.

Tiernan Power Roche’s star continues on the rise and when he won the Ryans Cleaning Handicap Chase aboard Watch The Weather, it was a sixth winner in less than a fortnight for the seven-pound claimer. The only difference between this and the previous five is that this one is trained by Ray Cody, not regular provider Philip Rothwell.

The finale, the Mervyn Gray Construction Bumper, was won in runaway style by the John McConnell-trained and Finn Buckley-ridden Heads Up, a Blue Bresil gelding whose dam line goes directly back to Polly Puttens, dam of Denman and Silverburn.