Brighterdaysahead stamped herself as a horse to be reckoned with in the hurdling sphere when defeating the reigning Champion Hurdle champion State Man in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.
With his stablemate Lossiemouth ruled out on the morning of the contest due to a sore foot, State Man's task was seemingly made more straightforward as he was sent off the 4/9 market leader to make it three straight successes in the Punchestown Grade 1.
However, fellow mare Brighterdaysahead had other ideas and with race fitness onside following her reappearance victory at Down Royal last month, Jack Kennedy appeared intent on making plenty of use of Gordon Elliott's mare.
State Man and Paul Townend began to eat into the advantage of Brighterdaysahead as the pair approached the second last and it looked as though last year's Champion Hurdle hero might have her measure going into the final flight. Yet a sloppy leap at the last quickly put him on the back foot and Brighterdaysahead soon found herself back in front under Jack Kennedy. Willie Mullins' ever-reliable State Man did his best to rally for Townend, but he was unable to get back on terms with the Giggingstown-owned Mersey Novices' Hurdle winner, who pulled to score by three-quarters of a length crossing the line.
The victory inflicted a first defeat for State Man on home soil and shook up an already turbulent Champion Hurdle market once more, with Brighterdaysahead now a general 4/1 chance for the Tuesday feature at Prestbury Park in March.
Kennedy said: "She is hopefully (a Champion Hurdle horse), and she had to do it the hard way there as well today.
"To be honest, I think she hated it out in front. She did all the donkey work, and she was very tough. State Man came and laid down his challenge, and she didn't lie down to him so that was great.
"I had an idea they were going to try and keep it steady, so I just had to go and make the running on her. It didn't suit her, but it worked out.
"We'll see what the lads say what the plan is. She would have had to do that today anyway (to go for the Champion Hurdle) and thankfully she did.
"She's improving away the whole time. I think she will have learned plenty today as well and it might make her kind of grow up a bit more, having to go and do it."
