14:30 Leopardstown (IRE) 29 Dec 2024
Neville Hotels Hurdle
Grade 1 | Class 1 | 4YO plus
Winner €90,000 - 6 ran
tracked leader, clear of remainder at 2nd, led 2 out and soon pushed clear, ridden before last where well clear, kept on well, very easily, impressive
towards rear, never a factor, off pace in 5th at 2nd, moderate 4th 2 out, soon pushed along and no impression, kept on one pace without threatening, went moderate 2nd closing stages
tracked leaders in 3rd, off pace when not fluent 2nd, not fluent 5th, moderate 3rd next, pushed along and no impression after 2 out, went moderate 2nd at last, no extra in 3rd closing stages
in rear, never a factor, off pace at 2nd, pushed along in moderate 5th when mistake 2 out, no extra entering straight, went moderate 4th after last
led, clear with one rival at 2nd, bad mistake 3 out, pushed along and headed next, soon ridden and no impression, moderate 3rd at last, no extra
raced in 4th, off pace at 2nd, pushed along and no impression after 3 out, weakened, tailed off
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | €76.37 (7, 6) |
| Win | €3.50 (7) |
| Place | €1.60 (7), €6.90 (6) |
| Exacta | €53.30 (7, 6) |
| Trifecta | €150.50 (7, 6, 5) |
Expert Analysis
What promised to be a fascinating rematch between the reigning Champion Hurdler State Man and the mare who beat him in the Morgiana Hurdle with the advantage of race fitness proved very one-sided, the former failing to fire and the latter seeming to take her form to an even higher level. It was run at a strong pace, with the field strung out, but Brighterdaysahead kept up the gallop after hitting the front 2 out while her more patiently-ridden rivals ended up losing further ground on her late on, a real testament to how she finished off, her 57.23s for the final 4f on ground that was objectively a bit nearer “good” than “good to soft” producing a 98.4% finishing speed.
BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD (h169 here, 160 previously) was better than ever and on the face of it produced one of the hurdling performances of recent times in annihilating her rivals at the end of a strongly-run race, racing in second until going on 2 out and quickly clear, kept up to her work most of the way home and continuing to increase her advantage when she might have been expected to pay for her exertions. Time analysis (not the easiest in this instance) suggests this was a high-class effort, if not quite as good as the bare margins make it look, and she is a threat to any other hurdler around, especially with ground and gallop like here.
WINTER FOG (h136+ here, 151 previously) was not at his very best but accounted for some notable rivals by running respectably while they did not, held up well back and running on steadily, into second on the run-in but never the slightest threat.
STATE MAN (h134 here, 168 previously) ended up running no sort of race and was clearly not himself, for all that it must be doubted whether he could have contained the winner even if he were. He was held up but at the front of the main group, was asked to close going to 2 out but did so only briefly and weakened further on the run-in. Usually so reliable, he was not the only one from his powerhouse stable to underperform markedly during the week.
FILS D’OUDAIRIES (h132 here, 149 previously) was held up and never on terms, not altogether discredited in such exalted company.
KING OF KINGSFIELD (h125+ here, 149 previously) paid for setting a strong pace until 2 out, which suited the winner much more than him or the others as it happened, and probably remains in form.
MYSTICAL POWER (h0 here, 154? previously) ran badly again, always behind, and would appear not to be right at present.
