Lossiemouth fends off Brighterdaysahead in December Hurdle

Lossiemouth repelled the strong challenge of the returning Brighterdaysahead to claim top honours in the December Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The Willie Mullins-trained Lossiemouth was a dominant winner of last month’s Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on her seasonal debut and was the 4-6 favourite to follow up and claim a ninth Grade One victory in the hands of Paul Townend.

Brighterdaysahead won this race by 30 lengths 12 months ago and with a planned novice chase campaign aborted after an autumn setback delayed her return, she was a 5-2 shot to successfully defend her crown for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy – and the two star mares ultimately came to the fore.

Brighterdaysahead’s stablemate Casheldale Lad was deployed in a pacesetting role for the first half of the contest before the other Mullins runner, Anzadam, pulled his way to the lead under Patrick Mullins in the back straight.

He predictably faltered from the home turn, leaving Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead to fight it out, and with the benefit of race fitness it was the former who had that bit more to give on the run-in and passed the post a length in front.

Willie Mullins said: “Paul had to go with Anzadam. She stays two and a half miles so he wasn’t going to be doing anything wrong going with him.

“I’m sure both mares will be back here for the Dublin Racing Festival. There aren’t too many options for those types of horses.

“Anzadam couldn’t get cover and was jumping so well he took Patrick to the front.

“I’m wondering should we be making the running with him in future. He has a fair engine and if we can control him, he is probably a Grade One horse.”

Lossiemouth remains Coral’s 3-1 second-favourite for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival behind 13-8 market leader Sir Gino. Brighterdaysahead, who has disappointed in two previous visits to Prestbury Park, is a 14-1 shot following her promising comeback effort.

Townend said of the winner: “She was brilliant. I was anxious when Patrick flew the couple of hurdles and went by us to not leave him off too far because he wasn’t a dead duck in the race – and he had had the run in Newcastle.

“It probably got me racing a little bit sooner than if he hadn’t gone by, but I wanted to mark him and try and cover all bases, and make the rest of them dance to my tune as much as I could.

“She is a gem to have and she has turned up every day, even when I didn’t turn up on her back here one day, she still turned up and ran a cracker.

“She’s a mighty mare and we are lucky to have her.”

Elliott was delighted with Brighterdaysahead’s performance and a rematch with Lossiemouth in the Irish Champion Hurdle is on the cards.

“I’m absolutely thrilled. I was more proud of her than anything all week. I thought what she did was unbelievable,” said the Cullentra House handler.

“She had a good blow and we knew she would need it coming here. We knew she was in good form, but Jack (Kennedy) was thrilled.

“We’re looking forward to bringing her back here for the Dublin Racing Festival.”