Elliott: Monday or Tuesday for Brighterdaysahead decision

Gordon Elliott has confirmed a final decision on whether his star mare Brighterdaysahead will run in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham will be made early next week.

A beaten odds-on favourite in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned six-year-old has taken her game to another level this season with a hat-trick of wins.

Following a comeback success at Down Royal, Brighterdaysahead edged out reigning Champion Hurdle hero State Man in the Morgiana at Punchestown before blowing him and the rest away with a scintillating 30-length victory at Leopardstown over the Christmas period.

With connections sidestepping the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, Brighterdaysahead will return to Prestbury Park a fresh horse – but whether she will go for Champion Hurdle glory or take the perceived easier option of the Mares’ Hurdle remains the burning question.

“I’m very happy with her, she’s in great form,” Elliott said during a media morning at his Cullentra base on Wednesday.

“It’s a Champion Hurdle, it’d be great to win it and we could be a long time trying to get a horse for it again, but if you look at the betting she’s very short for the Mares’ Hurdle.

“You don’t persuade Michael (O’Leary, owner), he does his own thing, and we’ll do the right thing for the horse.

“It (the decision) will be made on Monday or Tuesday. I don’t think we’ve had as good a chance in a Champion Hurdle before. We’ve been second and third in Champion Hurdles and Jack Kennedy says she’s different class.”

The red-hot favourite for the Champion Hurdle is former champion Constitution Hill.

Nicky Henderson’s superstar enjoyed a public gallop at Kempton on Tuesday and when asked what he made of the workout, Elliott joked: “It was frightening! I think he couldn’t have done any more than what he had to do and you have to respect what Nicky Henderson does – I have the utmost respect for him.

“He’s the horse we all have to beat, if we run.”