Brighterdaysahead defeated Lossiemouth in their rematch at Leopardstown to win the Irish Champion Hurdle on Sunday.
It was the reverse of their meeting in the December Hurdle at the Dublin venue, when Gordon Elliott’s mare (11-4) produced a strong finish to move three and a quarter lengths ahead of Willie Mullins’ pre-race favorite (4-6).
The five-man field was led for most of the time by El Fabiolo with Jack Kennedy on Brighterdaysahead in hot pursuit.
As the race entered the final corner the leader dropped back and Brighterdaysahead took the lead and although Paul Townend mounted a challenge at Lossiemouth the gap to the joint favorite Champion Hurdle could not be closed.
Poniros (33-1) finished third.
“We knew she had improved from the last day, but we weren’t sure if she was good enough to beat Lossiemouth,” Elliott told RTE Sport after the race.
“Jack had a plan that if no one made it, we would make it. She is very tough and she is staying.
“It’s great to be involved in these races and to win them is extra special. I was so nervous going into the final, I just thought ‘I hope she jumps it’.
“Lossiemouth is a superstar and ours is a superstar too. We are happy to have her.”
Majborough (2-1) won the Grade One Dublin Chase with a confident performance despite some earlier jumping problems.
Last year’s Irish Arkle winner was in excellent form with a 19-length win, riding clear on the home stretch of favorite Marine Nationale (5-4) and third-place Found A Fifty (10-1).
Sunday’s other Grade One races saw Kaid D’authie (5-1) take the Novice Steeplechase from Western Fold (12-1) and favorite Final Demand (30-100), while the Novice Hurdle went to pre-race favorite Talk The Talk (3-1), who finished ahead of Ballyfad (7-2) and King Rasko Gray (11-2).
#Irish #Champion #Hurdle #Brighterdaysahead #turns #tables #Lossiemouth