Brighterdaysahead over the last on her way to an emphatic success© Photo Healy Racing
The Listed Apple's Jade Mares Novice Hurdle in Navan was all about one horse, the unbeaten Brighterdaysahead and she stamped her class all over proceedings with an impressive display.
Gordon Elliott 's Kapgarde mare was four from four heading into today and took a marked step up in trip for this 2m5f contest.
She was last seen delivering in Grade 3 company at Down Royal in November and reappeared with plenty of zest.
Jack Kennedy raced her in third of the six runners just behind Butty O Brien and Mel Monroe and she travelled smoothly into the lead two out.
She was tanking along on the bridle and readily asserted before the final flight. She flicked through it and coasted 12 lengths clear to justify 1/3 favouritism. Pastorale (16/1) took the runner-up berth without ever landing a blow on the winner.
“She's a good mare, a proper mare. She's is very, very good - I don't say that about too many,” said Elliott.
“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.
“She's got a pedigree to be nice and her future is in front of her. She looks like a chaser.
“I'd say at the moment she doesn't want that far, she's got a bit of boot for a big mare, but we had nothing else to run her in because I missed her last engagement and I didn't want to go to England with her.”
Paddy Power trimmed Brighterdaysahead from 10/3 to 11/4 (non runner money back) for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
