Grade 1 Domination by Derby Sale graduate Brighterdaysahead
Brighterdaysahead announced herself as a leading force in the two-mile hurdling division with a 30-length demolition of her rivals in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.
The 2022 Derby Sale graduate stunned her five rivals with an outstanding display, where having followed a frantic pace, she maintained a relentless gallop in the home straight to land the fourth day feature for owners Gigginstown House Stud and trainer Gordon Elliott.
It was a ninth career victory and a third at Grade 1 level for Brighterdaysahead, who is now being mentioned in the same breath as 13-time Grade 1 winner and fellow Derby Sale graduate Honeysuckle.
The six-year-old mare has been in the spotlight ever since she was catalogued at the 2022 Derby Sale. She was consigned by John Bleahen of Lakefield Farm in June 2022, and on the day attracted the interest of some of National Hunt racing’s most powerful owners, but it was Gordon Elliott Racing that purchased her for €310,000.
Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra House Stable enjoyed a fruitful Christmas period with graduates from the Derby Sale.
Romeo Coolio stayed on decisively to win the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle, and a return to Leopardstown for the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival could be next on his agenda.
The six-year-old son of Kayf Tara was purchased at the 2022 Derby Sale from Clononeen Stud by Monbeg Stables for €92,000, and was subsequently resold at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale by Monbeg Stables to Gordon Elliott and Aidan O’Ryan for £420,000 after winning his four-year-old maiden.
Croke Park followed up his win in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase with an authoritative front running display in the Grade 1 Racing Post Long Distance Chase.
The seven-year-old is now unbeaten in three starts over fences, and Gordon Elliott did mention afterwards that he will now go straight to Cheltenham, where the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase is his most likely target.
The son of Walk In The Park was consigned at the 2021 Derby Sale by Ballincurrig House Stud, where Milestone Stables and Ballyboy Stables purchased him for €150,000.
Elsewhere, there was Grade 1 success aplenty for Tattersalls Ireland graduates over the festive season. November National Hunt Sale graduate Banbridge continued his love affair with Kempton when coming home with a late rattle to secure a dramatic Grade 1 King George VI Chase for trainer Joseph O’Brien and owner Ronnie Bartlett. He was purchased as a yearling from Springhill Stud by Ian Ferguson for €36,000.
Constitution Hill maintained his unblemished record and secured an eighth Grade 1 victory when returning with a classy performance in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle. The eight-year-old is a graduate of the November National Hunt Sale, and a mouthwatering clash with Brighterdaysahead later in the season is eagerly anticipated. The son of Blue Bresil was consigned by Throckmorton Court Stud and purchased by Warren Ewing and Barry Geraghty for €16,500.
Finally, The New Lion was a third Grade 1 winning graduate from the November National Hunt Sale. The Dan Skelton-trained son of Kayf Tara looks a novice hurdler of the highest calibre and effortlessly landed the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle in the colours of owners Darren and Annaley Yates. He was sold by Little Lodge Farm to Katie Rudd for €45,000.
The 2025 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale will come into sharp focus over the coming weeks, and nominations for the Derby Sale are now open. Ireland’s Premier Store sale produced the highest priced store sold at any Store sale in 2024 and is recognised by National Hunt trainers and agents as the most reliable source of Grade 1 winners.