Brighterdaisahead is preparing for the upcoming Christmas clash with Lossiemouth, as she aims to secure her spot for the December Hurdle at Leopardstown, under the training of Gordon Elliott. This six-year-old filly, owned by Giggins Townhouse Stud, has shown strong performances over hurdles in the past two seasons. While she was initially expected to switch to novice chasing this season, a minor setback has delayed her debut over fences.
Despite this, she has recovered well, and although a chase is still a possibility, Elliott sees a chance for her to defend her December hurdle title, especially with top contenders Statesman and William Manney out of the race. Elliott commented on the filly, who impressively won last year’s Leopardstown Special by 30 lengths, saying, “She’s set to work in the morning, and if all goes well, she’ll be entered in the two-mile hurdles at Leopardstown on December 29.”
Also slated for Leopardstown during the festival is Romeo Coolio, who recently claimed a dominant eight-length victory at Fairyhouse over Drinmore. He will compete in the two-mile, one-furlong Racing Post Novice Chase, a shorter distance than his previous two and a half miles win. Elliott noted, “He’s running a two-mile race. He might prefer longer distances, but we’ll reassess after the 26th to plan the rest of his season.”
Another notable contender is Tipoo Poo, who has been in excellent form, recently securing his third consecutive win at Hutton’s Grace in Fairyhouse on his season debut. He is now targeting the Christmas hurdle at Leopardstown. Elliott added, “He’s heading for the three-mile hurdles at Leopardstown and is coming out of Fairyhouse in strong shape. He’s feeling great.”
Fan Take: This update highlights the exciting prospects and strategic decisions ahead of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, a key event on the National Hunt calendar. Fans will be eager to see if Brighterdaisahead can defend her title and how the mix of seasoned and rising stars will shape the competitive landscape this season.
