Better Days Ahead
Better Days Ahead was beaten by his stable companion Croke Park in the Grade 1 Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase on the first day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, but he was only just beaten, and there should be more to come from Gordon Elliott's horse.
There wasn't much between the stable companions, there isn't much between the stable companions, and Croke Park is high class, as he proved when he won the Grade 1 Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse on his previous run, over two and a half miles, a distance that is probably sharper than ideal for him. And just he did at Fairyhouse, Croke Park led early under Sam Ewing. Better Days Ahead tracked him and, from what we could see through the fog, moved into second place ahead of another stable companion Stellar Story at the third last fence. We didn't see much of them after that until they emerged from the fog after jumping the second last fence, Croke Park still in front and Better Days Ahead coming under a ride from Danny Gilligan and trying to close. Two lengths down jumping the last, Better Days Ahead stayed on gamely up the run-in and, after having to switch off the inside rail, failed by just a head and a stride to catch the Gigginstown House horse.
Better Days Ahead continues his progression. He won the Martin Pipe Hurdle at last year's Cheltenham Festival, staying on strongly up the hill to get the better of Waterford Whispers and Quai De Bourbon in a strong renewal of a race that is often a springboard for high-class staying chasers, having been won in the past by Sir Des Champs and Killultagh Vic and Don Poli and Early Doors and Banbridge, and by Galopin Des Champs in 2021. The Bective Stud gelding then proved his ability to operate at Grade 1 level when he finished a close-up third behind Dancing City in the three-mile Grade 1 novices' hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in May, in a race that was run at a sedate pace, which wasn't ideal, especially at Punchestown. Gordon Elliott's horse was good on his chasing bow at Navan, when he kept on well to get the better of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Slade Steel over two and a half miles. He improved for that experience and for the step up to three miles at Leopardstown, and there is every chance that he will improve again now. A stamina test suits him well, and the fact that he attacked the Cheltenham hill with such verve last season will be a big asset if he goes back there in March for the Brown Advisory Chase.
Leopardstown, 26th December 2024
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