Brighterdaysahead marks return with classy victory for Gordon Elliott at Down Royal
WINNING RETURN: Brighterdaysahead & Sam Ewing win the Grade 3 Bottlegreen Hurdle for Gordon Elliott. Pic: Healy racing.
Classy Brighterdaysahead made a successful return to action when spearheading a one-two for Gordon Elliott in the Grade three Bottlegreen Hurdle in Down Royal.
It was the highlight of a Friday four-timer for the Cullentra trainer and a treble for jockey Sam Ewing, who was deputising for the suspended Jack Kennedy.
Sent to the front at the third, the five-year-old mare, sent off at the 4/5 favourite, had market rival Daddy Long Legs in trouble when reaching for the second last flight and then pressed by stable-companion King Of Kingsfield, flattened the final obstacle.
But she picked-up well and stayed on to triumph by three and three-quarter lengths. And a delighted Elliott explained; “We didn’t want it to turn into a sprint and I told Sam to go a good gallop.
"This mare has a high cruising-speed and can pick up off it. Sam said she had a good blow and there’s plenty of improvement to come from her.”
Quizzed about his plans for the mare, beaten only once in eight starts, Elliott pointed out: “She’s in the ‘Morgiana’, but that might come a bit too soon – it’s only three weeks away.
"I can see her having only one or two runs between this and Cheltenham. I think she’s very good and I wouldn’t be shocked if she turned up in the Champion Hurdle, if not there’s always the Mares Hurdle.”
Long odds-on favourites The Yellow Clay and Firefox, both in the colours of Bective Stud, produced impressive displays on their respective seasonal bows.
The only horse to have beaten the mighty Ballyburn, Firefox (2/7 favourite) made an impeccable start to his chasing career in the Mongey Communications Beginners Chase.
Taken on from the start by Mossy Fen Park, Ewing’s mount outjumped that rival at every fence and, ultimately, eased away to score by three and a half lengths.
“He was good – he looks a real two-miler,” stated Elliott.
“He always jumped hurdles like he wanted a fence. Sam was very happy with him and said, when he gave him a squeeze, he picked-up coming down the hill to the second last and that he took a good blow after the last.”
Looking ahead, he added: “He’ll be entered for the Drinmore, but we might have something else for that.”
Sam Ewing had made the perfect start to the day on board 4/11 shot The Yellow Clay in the opening maiden hurdle a race Elliott has now won nine times in ten years.
Runner-up in the Grade one bumper at Punchestown, he made most of the running and won readily by nine lengths from 125/1 shot Healdsburg.
Elliott commented: “He jumped great, settled well and has a good attitude. He’s a classy horse and would have no problem coming back to two miles. And he could win on the flat next summer.
“I think he’s a good horse, definitely a graded horse. He might go to Navan in two weeks, depending on how he comes out of this.”
Harry Swan provided Elliott with the final leg of his four-timer when Jacob’s Ladder (8/15 favourite), narrowly beaten at the Punchestown festival, cruised to victory in the Ladbrokes Flat Race.
Although overshadowed by Elliott’s achievement, trainer Philip Dempsey expressed himself "thrilled” by the victory of Sansrisk (Donagh Meyler) in the Grade three Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle, outpointing long-time leader Royal Hollow.
“She’s a big, well-bred filly,” said Dempsey. “She doesn’t want heavy ground, so she’ll probably have a break now, until the spring. We might dream about Cheltenham, with a ‘prep’ run at Navan, maybe.”
