GORDON Elliott is hoping that today’s Grade 1 Unibet Morgiana Hurdle (2.10) can help provide connections with answers to where Brighterdaysahead will be campaigned for the remainder of the season, as she puts her Champion Hurdle credentials to the test against State Man.

Last season’s Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival is the only time that the Gigginstown-owned mare has been beaten in her career, having been turned over as 5/6 favourite when second to Golden Ace in a tactically-run affair.

The immaculately-bred daughter of Kapgarde - a half-sister to high-class jumpers Mighty Potter, Caldwell Potter, French Dynamite and Indiana Jones - made no mistake when bolting up in Grade 1 company against the boys at Aintree on her next start, however, and also returned in winning form at Down Royal earlier this month.

Heading into today’s Grade 1 feature on day one of the Punchestown Premiere Weekend, she tops the ante-post market between 2/1 and 5/2 for the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle and is as big as 14/1 for the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

Elliott said: “We had a few options for her after Down Royal, but we thought the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown was the best next step for her.

“She’s come out of Down Royal in good form and couldn’t have done much more there, so we’ll go to Punchestown now at the weekend and find out a lot more about her.

“It’s a very prestigious race and we look forward to running her. Her performance on Saturday will tell us a lot more about what direction to point her in next.”

Today’s Morgiana Hurdle passed a 7.30am precautionary inspection.

Clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan reported: "We had 19mls of rain overnight. The ground is yielding to soft, soft in places. It's raining at present and we are expecting another 15-20ml of rain up to lunchtime and a dry afternoon. The wind is due to ease."