Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdayshead confirmed his status as a top hurdler by winning the Aintree Hurdle on the opening day of the Grand National meeting. Sent off as the 13-8 favourite, the mare surged past Potters Charm in the final furlong and held off a late charge from Dan Skelton’s New Lion to finish two and a quarter lengths clear.

Kennedy, who rode the mare, praised her stamina and hurdling ability, noting she recovered well from a defeat in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Elliott echoed the sentiment, calling her a champion and saying the longer trip suited her. The win gave the Elliott stable its second victory of the day, following Mange Tout’s Juvenile Hurdle success.

The result reshapes the Aintree hurdling hierarchy, pushing Brighterdayshead to the forefront of future Grade 1 contests while New Lion’s error highlights the fine margins at this level. Jockey Jack Kennedy credited skipping the Cheltenham Festival for keeping the mare fresh, a strategy that paid dividends. Overall, the day’s performances underscored Elliott’s training prowess and set a high bar for the remaining festival meetings.