Brighterdaysahead Wins Aintree Hurdle
Brighterdaysahead, who finished second in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, secured a commanding victory in the Aintree Hurdle as trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Jack Kennedy celebrated two wins on the opening day of the Grand National meeting.
With last year's winner, Lossiemouth, absent from the race, the Elliott-trained Brighterdaysahead started as the 13-8 favourite.
Potters Charm led for the majority of the race, but Kennedy guided Brighterdaysahead to the front as they approached the final stretch.
The New Lion appeared to be mounting a challenge; however, the Dan Skelton-trained horse made an error at the last hurdle, allowing Brighterdaysahead to finish two and a quarter lengths ahead.
"She is a great mare. She lost nothing in defeat in the Champion Hurdle [at the Cheltenham Festival] - she got beaten by another superstar. It is lovely for her to come here and get the job done," Kennedy told ITV.
"Stepping up in trip, she was probably doing a little bit more than I wanted today but she is a strong stayer so I was happy to let her roll. She jumped great.
She is incredibly quick and she is a very slick hurdler for a very big mare. She can make up plenty of ground at a hurdle."
Trainer Gordon Elliott added, "She's a champion. This is probably her trip. She was awesome.
I was nervous but it was easy to watch. Jack was brilliant on her."
Additional Races at the Grand National Meeting
Jango Baie, who finished second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month, dominated the Racing Welfare Bowl Chase by winning by 16 lengths over Protektorat.
Jockey Nico de Boinville, who had earlier been unseated on Lulamba, recovered to position the Nicky Henderson-trained horse well entering the home straight.
Paul Townend, riding Impaire Et Passe, challenged the even-money favourite but fell at the penultimate fence.
De Boinville said to ITV: "All in all, I'm absolutely delighted with him. He's in great order and put to bed that stat that they go to the Gold Cup and don't come here.
It's all down to the trainer and the team at home. Very special. This will mean a lot."
In the opening race of the day, Elliott-trained Mange Tout narrowly defeated 9-4 favourite Selma De Vary to win the Juvenile Hurdle.
The 5-1 shot surged over the final hurdle and held off Paul Townend's challenge.
Winning jockey Kennedy commented that the decision to skip the Cheltenham Festival in March "helped."
Disappointment struck for Henderson's odds-on favourite Lulamba in the Manifesto Novices' Chase when jockey De Boinville was unseated.
Darragh O'Keefe aboard Koktail Divin capitalized on the opportunity to claim first place.
Trainer Henry de Bromhead told ITV: "I was starting to get worried for a second but he started to pick up again. It was relentless. They were all jumping so well up front."
Barton Snow completed a Cheltenham Festival and Aintree double by adding the Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase to its Cheltenham Foxhunters Chase victory.
Jockey Henry Crow guided the favourite to a seven-length win over Lets Go Champ.
In the penultimate race, 14-1 outsider Ryan's Rocket surged strongly over the last fence to win the Red Rum Handicap Chase for trainer Fergal O'Brien.
Favourite Sans Bruit, winner of the race in 2024 and 2025, finished third in an attempt to secure a third consecutive victory.
Nan's Choice concluded the day's events with a win for Dan Skelton in the Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race.
