Elliott and proprietor Gigginstown Home Stud had been left with the dilemma of contesting the Shut Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, for which Brighterdaysahead was a sizzling favorite, or tackling Structure Hill in the primary occasion, with the latter choice now her confirmed goal.
The Gordon Elliott-trained mare has been crushed simply as soon as in her 10-race profession and can head to Prestbury Park after notching back-to-back Grade One victories within the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November and Leopardstown’s Neville Resorts Hurdle at Christmas.
She beat final yr’s Champion Hurdle hero State Man by three-quarters of a size on the primary event and that rival was left toiling in December, as Brighterdaysahead had him over 31 lengths away in third.
The coach advised www.gordonelliottracing.com: “I can affirm that Brighterdaysahead will likely be going for the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. After speaking it over with Michael and Eddie (O’Leary), we determined that we’d take up the choice of the Champion Hurdle.
“Clearly it may be an enormous check for the mare however she’s in nice form, her preparation has gone beautifully and he or she’s in nice order.
“We have by no means received a Champion Hurdle and it’s nice to have a challenger for one in all Nationwide Hunt racing’s most iconic races, so it is one thing we’re enormously trying ahead to.”
Coral clipped Brighterdaysahead to 2-1 second favorite from 9-4 for the Champion Hurdle, with Structure Hill heading the market as 8-13, having been eased barely from 1-2 following the information that Elliott’s mare will run.
Lossiemouth is subsequent finest on the record at 4-1, though she is now the 4-6 favorite for the Mares’ Hurdle in Brighterdaysahead’s absence.
“Brighterdaysahead completely deserves her place on this yr’s Champion Hurdle subject, so credit score to her connections for opting to tackle the problem. She’s the clear second favorite for the race, and whereas Structure Hill stays odds-on to regain his crown, the presence of the mare has undoubtedly made his job more durable,” stated the agency’s David Stevens.
