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Unibet Champion Hurdle
 QuinnBet
Grade 1, Cheltenham 16:00
£450,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
2m 87y, Class 1  
Tuesday 10th March 2026

Brighterdaysahead produced a performance of maturity and resilience to reverse previous form with Lossiemouth and secure the Timeless Sash Windows Irish Champion Hurdle on February 1, a contest that unfolded with depth, drama and a decisive flourish in the closing stages.

When the two leading mares first crossed swords in Leopardstown’s December Hurdle, it was Lossiemouth who had come out on top, asserting her class late in the month and establishing herself as the dominant force at the top of the division. That success, allied to her formidable reputation, saw the Willie Mullins-trained mare sent off the 4-6 favourite to confirm her superiority when the pair met again at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Brighterdaysahead, though, arrived with significant scope for improvement. Her run in December had been her first appearance of the season following an autumn setback, and connections were quietly hopeful that she would take a notable step forward. Those expectations were fully realised as Gordon Elliott’s mare, sent off at 11-4, delivered a controlled and ultimately commanding display under Jack Kennedy.

The early pace was set by Lossiemouth’s stablemate El Fabiolo, who took the five-runner field along for much of the two-mile journey. Brighterdaysahead was always close at hand, stalking the leader with intent, while Lossiemouth raced in third. As the field swept down the back straight, Paul Townend appeared less than content aboard the favourite, who was not travelling with her usual fluency and required encouragement to hold her position.

Approaching the home turn, El Fabiolo began to fade from contention, and Lossiemouth was able to reduce the deficit to Brighterdaysahead, briefly threatening to reassert her authority. However, in the testing underfoot conditions, it was Brighterdaysahead who found more when it mattered most. She jumped the final hurdles with assurance, lengthened clear on the run-in and crossed the line three and a quarter lengths to the good, a decisive margin that underlined both her stamina and her toughness.

Elliott was quick to acknowledge the progression his mare had made, saying: “We knew she had improved from the last day, whether she was good enough to beat Lossiemouth we weren’t sure.

“Jack had a plan that if nobody was going to make it we were going to make it. She’s very very tough and she stays.

“It’s great to be involved in these races and to win them is extra special. I was so nervous coming to the last, just thinking ‘I hope she jumps it’.

“Lossiemouth is a superstar and our one is a superstar as well. We’re lucky to have her.”

The impact of the victory was immediately felt in the betting for the Champion Hurdle, with Brighterdaysahead cut to 5-2 joint favourite with Dan Skelton’s The New Lion, having previously been available at 9-2. Lossiemouth, meanwhile, was eased to 11-4 for the same contest and now heads the market at 5-4 to secure a third Mares’ Hurdle instead.

Elliott continued his praise for his mare, adding: “All you have to do is look at her. She’s gorgeous, she’d take the eye out of your head.

“The plan was to go chasing this year but Michael (O’Leary) put his foot down. He said that half the season was gone and so right he was, he normally is right.”

From the runner-up’s camp, Townend was candid in defeat, reflecting on a race that never quite went to plan aboard the favourite: “I was never comfortable on her. It surprised me that I actually got in with a chance at any stage. Everything was hard work today.”

In a race rich with quality and narrative, it was Brighterdaysahead who emerged as the new standard-bearer, combining improvement, determination and tactical execution to stamp her authority at the highest level.

The manner of Tutti Quanti’s demolition job in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle has inevitably prompted discussion about loftier targets, with connections now weighing up whether to supplement him for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Turning a fiercely competitive handicap into a procession under top weight, he did far more than simply win; he announced himself as a horse operating on a very different level to his mark.

What made the performance resonate was not just the margin, but the authority with which it was achieved. Carrying 12st 2lb and still quickening right away from seasoned handicap performers is the sort of effort that naturally fuels Champion Hurdle speculation. The question now is whether today’s display represents a horse peaking perfectly for a bold strike at the very top table, or one who has simply found the ideal set of circumstances in a handicap environment.

Supplementing for the Champion Hurdle would be a significant call, both financially and in sporting terms, but momentum in racing can be a powerful thing. With confidence sky-high and the memory of a dominant Newbury success still fresh, the next few days will be crucial as connections decide whether to roll the dice and take on the established elite on hurdling’s biggest stage.

Unibet Champion Hurdle
£450,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 87y, Class 1
16 entries
Going:

NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY (form as of Feb 06)
1 8-2113 Alexei 6 11-10 Joe Tizzard
2 11-244 Anzadam 6 11-10 W P Mullins
3 15-223 Ballyburn 8 11-10 W P Mullins
4 1311F3 Casheldale Lad 6 11-10 Gordon Elliott
5 1FF-5F Constitution Hill 9 11-10 Nicky Henderson
6 2F-F15 El Fabiolo 9 11-10 W P Mullins
7 74-323 Lucky Place 7 11-10 Nicky Henderson
8 1P-342 Nemean Lion 9 11-10 Kerry Lee
9 1-23 Poniros 5 11-10 W P Mullins
10 /11-1P Sir Gino 4 6 11-10 Nicky Henderson
11 111-F1 The New Lion 7 11-10 Dan Skelton
12 1-2312 Wilful 7 11-10 Jonjo & A J O'Neill
13 /310-4 Workahead 4 8 11-10 Henry De Bromhead
14 14-321 Brighterdaysahead 7 11-3 Gordon Elliott
15 1-2212 Golden Ace 8 11-3 Jeremy Scott
16 11-112 Lossiemouth 7 11-3 W P Mullins

CHAMPION HURDLE PREVIOUS RESULTS

Year    Winner    Age/Wt     Jockey    Trainer     Owner    SP    Ran

2025 Golden Ace 7 11-3 Lorcan Williams Jeremy Scott I F Gosden 25/1 7

2024 State Man 7 11-10 Paul Townend W P Mullins Mrs J Donnelly 2/5F 8

2023 Constitution Hill 6 11-10 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville Michael Buckley 4/11F 7

2022 Honeysuckle 7 11-03 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore Kenneth Alexander 8/11F 10

2021 Honeysuckle 7 11-03 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore Kenneth Alexander 11/10F 10

2020 Epatante 6 11-03 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson J P McManus 2/1F 17

2019 Espoir D’Allen 5-11-10 Mark Walsh Gavin Cromwell IRE J P McManus 16/1 10

2018-WINNER- BUVEUR D’AIR 7-11-10 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-4/6 Fav
2ND-Melon 6-11-10 Owner-Mrs Joe Donnelly; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend; SP-7/1
3RD-Mick Jazz 7-11-10 Owner-George Mahony; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-25/1
11 ran, Time-4m 5.00s; Dist-nk, 3

2017-WINNER-BUVEUR D’AIR 6-11-10 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-5/1 2ND-My Tent Or Yours 10-11-10 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Aidan Coleman; SP-16/1
3RD-Petit Mouchoir 6-11-10 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Henry de Bromhead IRE; Jockey-Bryan Cooper; SP-6/1 11 ran, Time-3m 50.90s; Dist-41⁄2, 3 2/1 Fav Yanworth (Disqualified from 7th – banned substance in sample)

2016-WINNER-ANNIE POWER 8-11-03 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-5/2 Fav
2ND-My Tent Or Yours 9-11-10 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-10/1
3RD-Nichols Canyon 6-11-10 Owner-Andrea & Graham Wylie; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend; SP-15/2
12 ran, Time-3m 45.10s (new record); Dist-41⁄2, hd

2015-WINNER-FAUGHEEN 7-11-10 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-4/5 Fav
2ND-Arctic Fire 6-11-10 Owner-Wicklow Bloodstock Limited; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Danny Mullins; SP-20/1
3RD-Hurricane Fly 11-11-10 Owner-George Creighton & Rose Boyd; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend ; SP-8/1
8 ran, Time-3m 50.90s; Dist-11⁄2, 5

2014-WINNER-JEZKI 6-11-10 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-9/1
2ND-My Tent Or Yours 7-11-10 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-A P McCoy; SP-3/1
3RD-The New One 6-11-10 Owner-Sarah Such; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Sam Twiston-Davies; SP-10/3
9 ran, Time-3m 45.25s (new record); Dist-nk, 2½ 11/4 Fav Hurricane Fly (4th)

2013-WINNER- HURRICANE FLY 9-11-10 Owner-George Creighton & Rose Boyd; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-13/8 Fav
2ND-Rock On Ruby 8-11-10 Owner-The Festival Goers; Trainer-Harry Fry; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-11/2
3RD-Countrywide Flame 5-11-10 Owner-Estio Pinnacle Racing; Trainer-John Quinn; Jockey-Denis O’Regan; SP-16/1
9 ran, Time-3m 59.35s; Dist-2½, 1¾

2012-WINNER-ROCK ON RUBY 7-11-10 Owner-The Festival Goers; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-11/1
2ND-Overturn 8-11-10 Owner-Tim Leslie; Trainer-Donald McCain; Jockey-Jason Maguire; SP-20/1
3RD-Hurricane Fly 8-11-10 Owner-George Creighton & Rose Boyd; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-4/6 Fav
10 ran, Time-3m 50.10s; Dist 3¾, 1¾

2011-WINNER-HURRICANE FLY 7-11-10 Owner-George Creighton & Mrs Rose Boyd; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-11/4 Fav
2ND-Peddlers Cross 6-11-10 Owner-Tim Leslie; Trainer-Donald McCain; Jockey-Jason Maguire; SP-9/2
3RD-Oscar Whisky 6-11-10 Owner- Walters Plant Hire Ltd; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-7/1
11 ran, Time-3m 53.71s; Dist 11⁄4 , 5

2010-WINNER-BINOCULAR 6-11-10 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-A P McCoy; SP-9/1
2ND-Khyber Kim 8-11-10 Owner-Caroline Mould; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Paddy Brennan; SP-7/1
3RD-Zaynar 5-11-10 Owner- Men In Our Position; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Andrew Tinkler; SP-15/2
12 ran, Time-3m 53.80s; Dist-3½, 6 11/4 Fav Go Native (10th)

2009-WINNER-PUNJABI 6-11-10 Owner-Raymond Tooth; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-22/1
2ND-Celestial Halo 5-11-10 Owner-The Stewart Family; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-17/2
3RD-Binocular 5-11-10 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-6/4 Fav
23 ran, Time-4m 0.90s; Dist- nk, hd

2008-WINNER-KATCHIT 5-11-10 Owner-D S J P Syndicate; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-10/1
2ND-Osana 6-11-10 Owner-Thomas Barr; Trainer-David Pipe; Jockey-Tom Scudamore; SP-9/2
3RD-Punjabi 5-11-10 Owner-Raymond Tooth; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-25/1
15 ran, Time-4m 8.10s; Dist-1, 5 2/1 Fav Sizing Europe (14th)

2007-WINNER-SUBLIMITY 7-11-10 Owner-Bill Hennessy; Trainer-John Carr IRE; Jockey-Philip Carberry; SP-16/1
2ND-Brave Inca 9-11-10 Owner-Novices Syndicate; Trainer-Colm Murphy IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-11/2
3RD-Afsoun 5-11-10 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-28/1
10 ran, Time-3m 55.70s; Dist-3, nk 6/4 Fav Detroit City (6th)

2006-WINNER-BRAVE INCA 8-11-10 Owner-Novices Syndicate; Trainer-Colm Murphy IRE; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-7/4 Fav
2ND-Macs Joy 7-11-10 Owner-Mac’s J Racing Syndicate; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-13/2
3RD-Hardy Eustace 9-11-10 Owner-Lar Byrne; Trainer-Dessie Hughes IRE; Jockey-Conor O’Dwyer; SP-11/2
18 ran. Time-3m 50.00s; Dist-1, 3½

2005-WINNER-HARDY EUSTACE 8-11-10 Owner-Lar Byrne; Trainer-Dessie Hughes IRE; Jockey-Conor O’Dwyer; SP-
7/2 Jt Fav
2ND-Harchibald 6-11-10 Owner-Des Sharkey; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-7/1
3RD-Brave Inca 7-11-10 Owner-Novices Syndicate; Trainer-Colm Murphy IRE; Jockey-Barry Cash; SP-10/1
14 ran, Time-3m 51.50s; Dist-nk, nk 7/2 Jt Fav Back In Front (9th)

2004-WINNER-HARDY EUSTACE 7-11-10 Owner-Lar Byrne; Trainer-Dessie Hughes IRE; Jockey-Conor O’Dwyer; SP-33/1
2ND-Rooster Booster 10-11-10 Owner-Terry Warner; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-11/8 Fav
3RD-Intersky Falcon 7-11-10 Owner-Interskyracing.com & Jacqui O’Neill; Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Liam Cooper; SP-8/1
14 ran, Time-3m 54.50s; Dist-5, 4

2003-WINNER-ROOSTER BOOSTER 9-12-00 Owner-Terry Warner; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-9/2
2ND-Westender 7-12-00 Owner-Matt Archer & Jean Broadhurst; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Rodi Greene; SP-33/1
3RD-Rhinestone Cowboy 7-12-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-5/2
Fav 17 ran, Time-3m 54.70s; Dist-11, 3

2002-WINNER-HORS LA LOI III 7-12-00 Owner-Paul Green; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Dean Gallagher; SP-10/1
2ND-Marble Arch 6-12-00 Owner-Martin Wilson, Rory Sweet and Mary Wilson; Trainer-Hughie Morrison; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-25/1
3RD-Bilboa 5-11-09 Owner-Jorg Vasicek; Trainer-Francois Doumen FR; Jockey-Thierry Doumen; SP-14/1
15 ran, Time-3m 53.80s; Dist- 3, ½ 2/1 Fav Istabraq (pu)

2001 Cancelled

2000-WINNER-ISTABRAQ 8-12-00 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-8/15 Fav
2ND-Hors La Loi III 5-12-00 Owner-Paul Green; Trainer-Francois Doumen FR; Jockey-Dean Gallagher; SP-11/1
3RD-Blue Royal 5-12-00 Owner-Lynn Wilson; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-16/1
12 ran, Time-3m 48.10s; Dist-4, nk

1999-WINNER-ISTABRAQ 7-12-00 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-4/9 Fav
2ND-Theatreworld 7-12-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Tommy Treacy; SP-16/1 3RD-French Holly 8-12-00 Owner-Kieran Flood; Trainer-Ferdy Murphy; Jockey-Andrew Thornton; SP-11/2
14 ran, Time 3m 56.7s; Dist-3½, 2½

1998-WINNER-ISTABRAQ 6-12-00 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-3/1 Fav
2ND-Theatreworld 6-12-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Tommy Treacy; SP-20/1
3RD-I’m Supposin 6-12-00 Owner-Nicholas Cooper; Trainer-Richard Rowe; Jockey-Richard Dunwoody; SP-6/1
18 ran, Time 3m 49.1s; Dist-12, 1

1997-WINNER-MAKE A STAND 6-12-00 Owner-Peter Deal; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-7/1
2ND-Theatreworld 5-12-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-33/1
3RD-Space Trucker 6-12-00 Owner-Elaine Queally; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-John Shortt; SP-9/2
17 ran, Time-3m 48.4s, Dist-5, ¾ 7/2 Fav Large Action (pu)

1996-WINNER-COLLIER BAY 6-12-00 Owner-Wally Sturt; Trainer-Jim Old; Jockey-Graham Bradley; SP-9/1
2ND-Alderbrook 7-12-00 Owner-Ernie Pick; Trainer-Kim Bailey; Jockey-Richard Dunwoody; SP-10/11 Fav
3RD-Pridwell 6-12-00 Owner-Jones, Berstock and Fleet Partnership; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Chris Maude;
SP-33/1 16 ran, Time-3m 59.0s, Dist-2½, 6

1995-WINNER-ALDERBROOK 6-12-00 Owner-Ernie Pick; Trainer-Kim Bailey; Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-11/2
2ND-Large Action 7-12-00 Owner-Brian Stewart-Brown; Trainer-Oliver Sherwood; Jockey-Jamie Osborne; SP-4/1 Jt Fav
3RD-Danoli 7-12-00 Owner-Dan O’Neill; Trainer-Tom Foley IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-4/1 Jt Fav
14 ran, Time-4m 03.1s, Dist-5, 2