Aintree Hurdle awaits Brighterdaysahead before going chasing

Brighterdaysahead is “crying out for the step up in trip” ahead of what could be her final outing over timber in the the William Hill Aintree Hurdle next month.

Gordon Elliott’s star mare somewhat corrected her Cheltenham record when a game second to Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle, and before her long-anticipated switch to the larger obstacles next term she will head up in distance at Aintree for their feature hurdling attraction on the opening day of the Grand National meeting.

Brighterdaysahead of course has shone in Liverpool in the past, when a wide-margin winner in novice company two years ago, and her connections are relishing another trip to Merseyside.

“She’s going chasing next year and she was good as a novice there a few years ago, so we know she will handle the track well,” said Eddie O’Leary of owners Gigginstown House Stud.

“This year she has run her race at Cheltenham so no one can say she doesn’t handle Cheltenham now, she just got beaten by a superior mare on better ground that day. They are two great mares.

“Hopefully she gets to Aintree and all will be well with her. She’s crying out for the step up in trip, she needs it.”

O’Leary added: “She’s going chasing, so she’s probably had her last tussle with Lossiemouth now, but they are two wonderful mares.”