Brighterdaysahead Shines Again At Aintree

Brighterdaysahead and Jango Baie formed part of a memorable day for Tattersalls Ireland graduates, as the pair won the Grade 1 features on the opening day of the Aintree Festival.

It was also a significant double for John Bleahen of Lakefield Farm, as the highly respected Store Sale consignor sold both horses as three-year-olds in 2022.

Brighterdaysahead delivered at Grade 1 level for a fifth time in her spectacular career, with the Derby Sale graduate winning the Aintree Hurdle under Jack Kennedy.

The seven-year-old mare has created headlines since she became the highest priced mare at the Derby Sale, when selling for €310,000 in June 2022, and today she was again the focus of attention, as she battled bravely to secure an eleventh career win.

It was a second Grade 1 this year for the Gordon Elliott-trained mare, who won the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival in February.

Elliott was fulsome in his praise for the mare afterwards: “She’s a champion. I was nervous but it was easy to watch. She’s the apple of all our eyes. We’re trying to find a few more of these.”

It was a second Grade 1 at Aintree for the Gigginstown House Stud owned mare, who in 2024 won the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle.

Jango Baie Destroys Opposition in Bowl

Earlier in the afternoon, Jango Baie confirmed the belief that he is a three-mile chaser of the highest calibre as he proved far too strong for his rivals in the Aintree Bowl.

The Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old was adding a third career Grade 1, and a first this season, after finishing a highly creditable second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time.

Henderson mentioned afterwards that he will have two big targets next season: “The King George and the Gold Cup are the two obvious races next season. It’s got to be the same plan as this again.”

Jango Baie was sold by Lakefield Farm to Matt Gahan in May 2022, and after finishing second in his four-year-old maiden at Knockanard for Michael Goff, he was subsequently purchased by current connections at the Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale in 2023.

Elsewhere on the Aintree card today, there was Grade 2 success in the concluding bumper for November National Hunt Sale graduate Nan’s Choice. Trained by Dan Skelton, she was sold as a foal by Hillview Stud, on behalf of Ashroe Stud, to Anthony Murphy in November 2021.

After providing trainer Conor Houlihan with his first racecourse winner at Gowran in February, she changed hands at the Cheltenham February Sale just six days later when purchased by her trainer and Ryan Mahon for £115,000.

Derby Sale graduate Ryan’s Rocket landed the valuable Red Rum Handicap Chase for trainer Fergal O’Brien and the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate.

The eight-year-old was sold in June 2021 by Richard Busher’s Busher Bloodstock to Matthew Flynn O’Connor’s Ballycrystal Stables. He was later sold to current connections at the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale in 2022.

Entries remain open for the 2026 Derby Sale, which last year saw 38 lots exceeding the €100,000 mark, and 12 lots selling for €150,000 or more.

All horses catalogued are eligible for the €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland MSL Mercedes-Benz Sales Bumper, run at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. The vendor of the winning horse will drive away in a luxurious Mercedes-Benz GLC.