LOSSIEMOUTH and Brighterdaysahead’s rematch in the Irish Champion Hurdle proved a fitting crescendo to four stellar Grade 1s on the revised opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival.

With Final Demand disappointing in the first feature, a last-gasp winner in the next, and revived Majborough showing up in the third of the Grade 1s, we received no clues as to how to predict the outcome of the mares’ clash, as they remained tightly matched in the betting right until the off.

Willie Mullins’ grey was sent off 4/6 favourite to claim Closutton’s fourth straight win in the race, with Gordon Elliott’s star evaluated an 11/4 chance to bridge the length she was beaten last month.

The favourite’s stablemate El Fabiolo set the pace out in front, while Jack Kennedy rode Brighterdaysahead in clear runner-up position, with a greater gap back to Paul Townend in third. Lossiemouth’s poor leap at the first flight after the stand signalled the first warning signs, while Brighterdaysahead produced a cleaner round on the heavy ground.

The market leaders narrowed El Fabiolo’s advantage to virtually nil approaching the turn for home, where Brighterdaysahead produced a smart turn of foot that belied the testing conditions. Lossiemouth did her best to narrow the gap, and while Brighterdaysahead appeared to idle on the run-in, she crossed the line three and a quarter lengths in front. The multiple Grade 1 winners finished 11 lengths clear of Poniros in third.

New high

“To be honest, it was probably the best she’s ever jumped,” Kennedy said after the race. “I was always comfortable on her. I would have liked a lead for longer; I was a long way up there in front, she was probably idling there towards the end.”

Brighterdaysahead was subsequently made 2/1 joint-favourite alongside The New Lion for the Champion Hurdle, while Lossiemouth’s price went from 6/4 favourite out to 5/1.

Looking ahead to Cheltenham, Kennedy reflected: “On that ground, it was probably a tough aul race, but there doesn’t seem to be a bother on her there. Hopefully she can improve again.”

Paul Townend later reported that he was never happy at any stage with Lossiemouth, saying: “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.”

When Kennedy previously won the Irish Champion Hurdle for Elliott, he was aboard an 8/11 favourite in Apple’s Jade, with her nearest market rivals both 4/1. This time, even they themselves were not 100% sure that their mare was up to beating the favourite, Elliott revealed.

“Whether she was good enough or not, to beat Lossiemouth, we weren’t sure, but Jack had a plan that if no one was going to make it, we were going to make it,” he said.

“Look, it’s great to be involved in these races and to win them is just extra special. I was so nervous coming to the last, just hoping she’d jump it. Look, Lossiemouth is a superstar and our one is a superstar as well, we’re lucky to have her.”

Gigginstown House Stud’s Michael and Anita O’Leary were on hand to enjoy the win, with Elliott commenting: “They’re big supporters of Irish racing and they’re big supporters of Cullentra House, so I’m delighted they’re here.

“The plan was to go chasing this year and Michael put his foot down and said the season’s halfway gone, and how right he was.”

Knew her when

Also there to bask in Grade 1 glory were John and Niall Bleahen, who sourced Brighterdaysahead as a foal and resold her through John’s Lakefield Farm at the Derby Sale to Elliott for €310,000.

On what Sunday’s win meant to them, John said: “It’s good as you can get, as if you owned it yourself, and it’s as good as you can wish for. They are fantastic clients of ours; they’ve bought good and bad off us. For us to come across one like her in our lifetime, we consider ourselves awful lucky.”

It was the cherry on top of an already fantastic set of results for the Bleahen brothers, with John having a Karaktar half-brother to Talk The Talk to sell this year, while the brothers also have a three-parts sister to Majborough at home.

Brighterdaysahead has proven herself to be special with four Grade 1 wins, but the Bleahens insist she has star quality from the very beginning. “She was just a no-brainer; once you saw her, you were going to have her,” John reports.

Most top-class horses are said to have an edge to them, particularly mares, and Brighterdaysahead was no different in her younger years. “She was a bully at home as well – in a bunch, she’d dominate,” Niall explains, while John added: “She’s like a gelding.”