Brighterdaysahead delivered a dominant 30-length triumph over last season’s Champion Hurdle winner State Man in the Neville Hotels Hurdle on the final day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.
Defying the odds as a 5-2 shot, the Gordon Elliott-trained mare, ridden by Sam Ewing, took control before the penultimate hurdle and powered to victory despite a slight misstep at the last.
State Man, the 4-9 favourite, struggled throughout and was edged out for second place by 66-1 outsider Winter Fog.
The win marked Elliott’s 100th Grade One victory and followed his 2,000th Irish National Hunt success earlier in the day.
Reflecting on the milestone, Elliott expressed gratitude to his supporters, Michael and Eddie O’Leary of Gigginstown House Stud.
