HOPES were high at one point last season that a first clash between Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead would result in one of the most gripping head-to-heads possible in the Champion Hurdle, but one diverting to the Mares’ Hurdle and the other bombing out in her Cheltenham assignment meant the stars never aligned for a proper duel.

We’re now set to get that showdown of two elite hurdling mares - and potentially another in the shape of Wodhooh - in Leopardstown’s Grade 1 December Hurdle (2.32) on Monday, though whether Brighterdaysahead will deliver her absolute best must be a question mark.

Gordon Elliott has reported that the scintillating 30-length winner of this race last year was in a good place after a piece of work in the lead-up to Christmas. On official ratings, she is the equal of the race-fit Lossiemouth, with both holding marks of 159.

However, this couldn’t be described as the perfect prep for Brighterdaysahead given a planned novice chasing campaign has been put on ice following at least one setback in her preparations for various beginners’ chases.

With time tighter than ideal to build up experience over fences before the spring and State Man ruled out for the season - as well as both Constitution Hill and The New Lion falling on their reappearances - it makes sense to switch the Gigginstown-owned mare back to hurdles for the rest of the campaign.

That said, can we really expect Brighterdaysahead to be at the peak of her powers with no run since a disappointing Punchestown Festival showing, and after having had some issues since? When she blew her rivals away here last year, she was doing so on the back of two wins at Down Royal and Punchestown that would have left her cherry-ripe in terms of sharpness. In premier two-mile hurdles, where missing a beat can be so costly, that needs to be factored in, for all that she is an exquisite talent.

Winning reappearance

In contrast, Lossiemouth was sent on to jump at a reasonable two-mile pace when winning the Morgiana Hurdle without any fuss five weeks ago. That was no test for a mare of her calibre, beating the 143-rated Glen Kiln by 19 lengths, while receiving 7lb from her rivals.

Still, there is no doubting her class. The Morgiana was an eighth Grade 1 win for Susannah Ricci’s star mare, who has only finished out of the first two once in her career (when falling in last season’s Irish Champion Hurdle).

Two miles could be on the sharp side for Wodhooh, who is officially rated 5lb behind the top two mares and has two and three-quarters of a length to find on Lossiemouth from when they finished 1-2 in the Aintree Hurdle.

Also declared is Fighting Fifth Hurdle runner-up Anzadam. He ought to benefit from the experience gained in that high-octane Grade 1 last time, though some have questioned whether he looked the most straightforward under pressure in the straight.

Those three are well clear in the betting of the other five runners declared.

Joe Chambers, racing manager for Lossiemouth's owners, Rich and Susannah Ricci, said: “Paul (Townend) asked her a big enough question the pace he went from the start in the Morgiana and a lot of Willie’s novices at least haven’t been hitting the target, so I guess that run, in hindsight, would look that bit better since.

“There’s been no bad news since Punchestown, we’re not owners who go contacting Willie every day for bad news so we’re very much looking forward to it.

“Gordon (Elliott) is sending his good mare (Brighterdaysahead) to take her on and the inside track at Leopardstown over two miles will be plenty sharp for her and it will probably be ground worries more than anything else.

“We wouldn’t mind a drop of rain and we do think she has a preference for softer ground, but if she is to justify her price at the head of the Champion Hurdle market, she is going to have to take care of business.”

Elliott said of Brighterdaysahead: “She’s in good form. She will come on for the run, but we’re going to let her start off and see where we are."