A Bright Day for Brighterdaysahead

Brighterdaysahead confirmed her status as a top-class mare when making all to land the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown, recording her greatest success to date. In an epic renewal of the race, the gutsy mare dug deep in the final stages to win in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy.

Brighterdaysahead, now a two-time Grade 1 winner, topped the 2022 Derby Sale when she lit up the ring, selling to Gordon Elliott for €310,000 by the Bleahen’s Lakefield Farm.

At Haydock, Roadlesstravelled maintained his unbeaten track record by winning the Grade 2 Newton Novices’ Hurdle for Jonjo and AJ O’Neill, Jonjo O’Neill Jnr and Brook Farm Bloodstock. A possible Supreme Novices’ Hurdle target may be next for the five-year-old son of Lauro who was sold at the 2022 Derby Sale by Springfield House Stud to Monbeg Stables for €44,000. 

Touch Me Not enhanced his reputation considerably by winning the Grade 2 Craddockstown Chase comfortably by six-lengths for Gigginstown House Stud, Gordon Elliott and Sam Ewing on day two of the Punchestown Premier Weekend. Emerging from the contest as a top class novice chaser, the son of Malinas was sold by Sheridan House Stables on behalf of breeder Lenny Flynn at the November National Hunt Sale to Fernham Farm for €10,000.

Bigger prizes are on the horizon for Ballyburn who made the perfect start to chasing winning the Beginners contest at Punchestown by a massive 13 lengths. The Willie Mullins trained gelding who “did things very well” in the colours of RA Bartlett and David Manasseh was sold by breeders The Beeches Stud as a foal at the November National Hunt Sale to Ian Ferguson for €80,000.