Scintillating Brighterdaysahead a 100th Grade 1 for Elliott Brighterdaysahead put in a devastating display to rout the field in the Neville Hotels Hurdle at Leopardstown, and brought up 100 Grade 1 winners for her trainer Gordon Elliott. This race featured a rematch between Brighterdaysahead and reigning champion hurdler State Man who she conquered in the Morgiana at Punchestown when she availed of race fitness. State Man was expected was expected to come on from that seasonal reappearance second. He found himself racing well off a searching gallop being set by King Of Kingsfield, a stablemate of Brighterdaysahead who tracked him throughout. Brighterdaysahead went on after two out with everyone looking back to see if State Man was coming. He was toiling in a remote third, though, and Brighterdaysahead galloped on remorselessly to score by a whopping 30 lengths at 5/2. Winter Fog (66/1) got up for second from the odds-on favourite State Man, who had no answers today. Owner Michael O’Leary from Gigginstown House Stud said: “She was great, but King Of Kingsfield did the hard work as well. “Eddie (O’Leary, brother) called me a couple of years ago and said there is a mare here that we have to buy. Gordon has loved her since he got her home, so it’s down to the two of them." Tongue in cheek he said: “I’d go for the Mares Hurdle but we’ll have a chat about it closer to Cheltenham but ultimately Gordon and Eddie will probably decide and I’ll be overruled! "Let’s enjoy today.” Gordon Elliott said: “I was nervous watching it as I was wondering if they were going too fast. “We’ve always thought the world of her and we’re going to enjoy today, but I wanted to give a word to Jack Kennedy as she’s his mare and he’ll be back riding all these horses once he’s fit. “Sam is doing a brilliant job but Jack is first jockey." On his 100th Grade 1 winner, he added: “It’s good to get it for the lads who have supported me through thick and thin. “I have a brilliant bunch of owners and great staff, but these men have backed me the whole way." Jockey Sam Ewing said: "I'm over the moon really - she is a special, special mare. "Danny (Gilligan) went a good, honest gallop on him (King Of Kingsfield) and I followed him. She jumped very well everywhere today. "The way she picked up in the straight, I was waiting for State Man to be hot on my heels to be honest. "No (didn't look for him), he comes fast and I didn't want to be looking behind me! "I couldn't be happier with her. I think she has shown us today now that there are a lot of options for her." When asked if he thinks she is better going left-handed, he replied: "Look she jumped straight today. Obviously, jumped out to her left the last day but I don't know if it matters that much with the way she won today." Paul Townend said of State Man: “I was in trouble from an early stage. He was never really travelling.” Paddy Power slashed Brighterdaysahead from 20/1 to 4/1 for the Champion Hurdle, and have her at 11/4 from 2/1 for the Mares' Hurdle - a race in which Lossiemouth is their 4/5 favourite. Additional reporting by Alan Magee
