AFTER Galopin Des Champs the previous day, it was Brighterdaysahead who lit up the final afternoon of the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown with an extraordinary 30-length victory in the Neville Hotels Hurdle.

Champion Hurdle winner State Man was going for three in a row in this race and was sent off 4/9 favourite to turn around Morgiana Hurdle form with the Gordon Elliott-trained Brighterdaysahead (5/2) who had lowered his colours at Punchestown in November.

Sam Ewing was on board Gigginstown House Stud’s daughter of Kapgarde and bounced her out to track stablemate King Of Kingsfield, who was essentially utilised as her pacemaker, while State Man and the other three runners sat well off the front pair who went along at what seemed a good gallop.

Ewing’s mount went on at the second-last and powered clear with State Man soon moving into second but unable to make any impression. The favourute was passed on the run-in by Winter Fog who claimed the silver medal position.

Owner Michael O’Leary enthused: “She was great but King Of Kingsfield did the hard work as well. I’d go for the Mares’ Hurdle but we’ll have a chat about it closer to Cheltenham and ultimately Gordon and Eddie will probably decide and I’ll be overruled!”

Jack will be back

Elliott said: “I was nervous watching it as I was wondering if they were going too fast. We’ve always thought the world of her and we’re going to enjoy today but I want to give a word to Jack Kennedy as she’s his mare and he’ll be back riding all these horses once he’s fit. Sam is doing a brilliant job but Jack is first jockey.”

On recording what was his 100th Grade 1 winner, he added: “It’s good to get it for the lads who have supported me through thick and thin. I have a brilliant bunch of owners and great staff but these men have backed me the whole way.”

Elliott had hit another landmark earlier on the card when The Enabler (4/1), always prominent under Ewing in the Gigginstown colours, just clung on by a short head from I Am Lorenzo in the Grant Fit Out Maiden Hurdle.

This was a 2,000th Irish National Hunt success for the 46-year-old trainer who commented: “You dream about doing something like that but it’s a testament to all the owners and our staff. We have a great bunch of young horses and have been rebuilding for the last couple of years.”

GAVIN Cromwell sent out five winners over the Christmas period and Al Gasparo’s 20/1 success in the Neville Hotels Premier Handicap Hurdle was the third big prize that he scooped at Leopardstown.

Owned by Swords Bloodstock Limited and Dermot Fagan, the son of Al Namix made all under Conor Stone-Walsh and held the late surge of Park Of Kings by half a length.

“He’s good when he gets into that rhythm and gets it easy on his own,” said Cromwell. “It’s in the lap of the handicapper now but he’s a lad that will jump a fence. I’d say that trip of two and a half miles is ideal.”

Blackmore back to winning ways

Rachael Blackmore partnered her first winner since returning from a spell of almost three months on the sidelines due to injury when July Flower (15/2) landed the Grade 3 Beat The Bank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle.

Having her first run since returning from France to rejoin Henry de Bromhead, the winner came from off the pace to beat Kala Conti by by four lengths,

“She jumped great and Rachael was brilliant on her,” said de Bromhead. “I’m delighted for Duncan Angove who was happy to buy her during the summer (for £350,000) and obviously she’s a valuable broodmare as well.

“We had her when she was younger and liked her then. We bought her to win the Mares’ Hurdle, so the dream is alive and we’ll probably head straight there now.”

Cheltenham prospect

The Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase was an incident-packed affair which was won in facile fashion by handicap debutant Sequestered (10/1).

Ridden by Jack Gilligan for his father Paul, the Malinas gelding took the lead leaving the back straight and came home 10 lengths in front of Dorans Law.

Trainer Gilligan said: “I’m delighted for the owners Tom Quinn and Paul Lyons. I’d like to think he could be a Cheltenham horse and the Irish National could be a race for him as novices have a good record in it.”

SUCCESSFUL on his previous two starts, Ol Man Dingle was nonetheless allowed to go off at 20/1 in the SIS Irish EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle and belied those odds when winning readily under Ricky Doyle.

Keen behind the leaders early on, the winner was taken to the front at halfway and kept on well to beat market leader Taponthego by four and three-quarter lengths.

Trainer Eoin Griffin said: “We had him kind of laid-out for this race. The owner Brian Caherty has a big crowd down with him from Armagh and I’m delighted for him.”

Outsider of five Carrigmoornaspruce (10/1) came from last to first with a withering finish to cut down the pacesetting Sortudo in the Plusvital INH Flat Race.

Having won in similar fashion on her previous start at Naas, the Diamond Boy chesnut quickened smartly to score by three parts of a length for the Old Fools Partnership and trainer Declan Queally.

The trainer’s son and namesake was on board and said: “She’s a very talented filly and we’re planning on coming back here for the mares’ bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival.”