Elliott thinking outside the box with Brighterdaysahead

Gordon Elliott is toying with a change of approach for Brighterdaysahead ahead of his star mare’s bid to make it third time lucky at the Cheltenham Festival in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

Prestbury Park’s showpiece meeting has so far proved to be a cruel mistress for the seven-year-old, beaten at odds-on when favourite for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in 2024 before failing to show her true colours once again when fancied to land a blow in last year’s Champion Hurdle.

She earned another crack at hurdling’s top prize when turning the tables on Lossiemouth in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown earlier this month and her trainer is considering changing tack in an attempt to finally conquer the undulations of the Cotswolds.

Speaking at a media morning organised by The Jockey Club on Tuesday, Elliott said: “You’d love to be going there with a her having a better record around Cheltenham, but I think the first year the mare didn’t do anything wrong – I think Jack (Kennedy) and Paul (Townend, riding Jade De Grugy) were looking at each other and that good mare called Golden Ace came and nabbed both of them.

“Last year she wasn’t right, after Punchestown we discovered something and we’ve rectified it. I’d put a line through last year – she was beaten after a hurdle.

“We might do something different with her this year and stable her outside Cheltenham.

“I think the ground is going to be beautiful, safe ground on the Tuesday. The way the weather is you wouldn’t know what you’re going to get, but it’s not going to be quick.”

Last year’s Champion Hurdle, won in dramatic circumstances by Jeremy Scott’s Golden Ace, was one of the most eagerly awaited of modern times, but 12 months on the race has an open complexion after a season that is yet to see one standout candidate emerge from the pack.

Brighterdaysahead can arguably call herself Ireland’s leading contender after her Dublin Racing Festival success, with the bookmakers agreeing as she disputes favouritism with Dan Skelton’s The New Lion

There will also be the unheralded defending champion and potentially a certain Constitution Hill in the mix, providing he comes through his eagerly-awaited Flat appearance at Southwell untarnished.

Analysing the opposition, Elliott added: “It is an open Champion Hurdle with three or four horses at the top of the betting that could win it, but she’s in good form and I couldn’t be happier with her.

“The Skelton horse is very good, Golden Ace keeps going underneath the radar and I suppose all eyes will be on Constitution Hill to see what he does back over hurdles.

I worry about my own horses and not anybody else’s, to be honest.

Gordon Elliott

“I don’t think he’ll learn any more in Southwell than what Nicky (Henderson) already knows. If he runs in the Champion Hurdle it will make an even better race.”

The Cullentra House handler also expressed some sympathy for the situation Constitution Hill’s trainer finds himself in and when asked what he would do in Henderson’s situation, he added: “I’d probably stop talking to you and let the horse do the talking!

“The horse has been unlucky, I’m not having that he’s a bad jumper. He’s just been a bit unlucky and has maybe he’s lost his confidence, but Nicky Henderson is a master trainer and whatever he does will be the right thing for the horse.

“I worry about my own horses and not anybody else’s to be honest.”