7 Tips for Cheltenham - No. 6 Brighterdaysahead When you hear Gordon Elliott say that the runner he is most excited about at Cheltenham is Brighterdaysahead you have to sit up and take notice. The Gigginstown Stud-owned five-year-old mare was bought unraced at the 2022 Tattersalls Derby Sale for €310,000 and has since made the perfect start to her career on the track with an unblemished record of five straight victories. Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Jack Kennedy Owner: Gigginstown House Stud Race Form: 11111 She won two bumpers last season, including a €100,000 Sales event at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival, before her attentions were switched to hurdles in the autumn. Three comfortable victories over flights have followed and this half-sister to the likes of Caldwell Potter, Mighty Potter and French Dynamite could be one of the Irish bankers at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. Gordon Elliott stated after her recent victory at Fairyhouse: “She's a good mare, a proper mare. She's very, very good - I don't say that about too many. Jack said he couldn't get a lead any longer on her and he said she wasn't doing a stroke in front. She'll come on from it too as we missed a little bit of time with her, nothing serious, just niggly things.” Brighterdaysahead is set to contest the Ryanair sponsored Mares Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday and is currently priced up as 6/4 favourite with Unibet. Jade De Grugy and Dysart Enos look to be the chief threats to Brighterdaysahead at Cheltenham. The Willie Mullins-trained Jade De Grugy came from off the flat in France and is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles. She is an exciting prospect, but will need to brush up her jumping if she is to challenge the Elliott-trained mare. Dysart Enos was runner-up in an Irish point-to-point before joining Fergal O’Brien. She hasn’t looked back since, rattling up a sequence of six straight wins which included a Grade Two bumper last season. In truth she hasn’t beaten much in three hurdle victories this season, but does boast a success over the course at Cheltenham and is another mare with a bright future. This race represents Brighterdaysahead’s stiffest challenge yet, but it is most likely that she will take it in her stride and maintain her unbeaten record. 18+ Play Responsibly dunlewey.org Read about the other tips in this series No. 1 Lossiemouth No. 2 Embassy Gardens No. 3 Meetingofthewaters No. 4 Maskada No. 5 Teahupoo
