Brighterdaysahead really bounced back from his Cheltenham Festival disappointment by scoring easily in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy.
Held in very high regard by Elliott, she traveled to the Cheltenham Festival as one of the week’s apparent bankers in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
The five-year-old owned by Gigginstown House Stud suffered a shock defeat at Prestbury Park, however, while second to Golden Ace, but back on the road and facing quality opposition, the five-year-old confirmed that she was a mare of the highest quality.
Set up in midfield by Kennedy, Brighterdaysahead was always in the perfect position and after launching menacingly into the run around the turn to head home, she sailed effortlessly into the lead before the finale.
Kennedy could just sit back and savor the moment as the 6-5 favorite cruised to an easy seven and a half length success over stablemate Staffordshire Knot, which gave Gigginstown a double in the Grade 1 event .
Elliott said: “The horses ran well all week but we hit the crossbar. I talked a lot about this mare leading into Cheltenham and was gutted coming out of it, but we are delighted today .
“She’s doing really well, I was nervous before the race because looking at her I thought she looked a little light in the back, but she showed how special she is.
“We can go anywhere we want with her. I’m not going to say the best mare I’ve had because Apple’s Jade was pretty special, but she’s good.
“In this game there are always disappointments, but I see life totally differently now, I love training winners and I love horses. But to win today is incredible.
Brighterdaysahead and Jack Kennedy claim victory at Aintree in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle
“I don’t think the trip was the reason she was beaten at Cheltenham, I thought she would win. Willie’s horse (Jade De Grugy) has already gone out and won at Fairyhouse. I just think about the day where Jack and Paul (Townend) were watching each other and the other horse (Golden Ace) came and did both.
“She’s beautiful to look at.”
In third position, making a huge run at 50-1, was Bugise Seagull, trained by Charlie Longsdon.
“At 50-1 he wasn’t given a chance, but I knew he was five lengths better than his Sidney Banks run. I thought that would put him on par with (stablemate) Handstands,” said Longdon.
“He’s not good enough to race with handicaps and he’ll be thrown into a field and have a great holiday.
“It’s been a bad season for us, horses have been sick and then they come back on heavy ground and it’s just not easy to come back from illness on heavy ground.
“This horse flew the yard flag to be brutally honest. Hopefully this is the turn of things to come.”
