Nap of the Day: Brighterdaysahead to take State Man’s crown

The Champion Hurdle market has had a fair shake-up this week already after Constitution Hill's winning return at Kempton on Boxing Day and there could be more drama at Leopardstown on Sunday. The final Grade 1 of their four-day meeting is the Neville Hotels Hurdle (14:30) over two miles and the star attraction is State Man, the reigning Champion Hurdler.

He's got plenty in his favour, but he was given a bloody nose by Brighterdaysahead at Fairyhouse five weeks ago and the mare might deliver the follow-up punch now, as outlined in my Nap of the Day below.

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend don't always have things their own way. They got a one-two from Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville at Kempton for Christmas as Constitution Hill downed Lossiemouth and then Sir Gino flattened Ballyburn.

The Closutton duo will be back stronger before long, but State Man could be vulnerable in his pursuit of a third straight win in this festive race.

He's unbeaten when standing up at Leopardstown, his only tumble coming in a 2021 maiden hurdle at this meeting, but BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD stunned him in the Morgiana last month.

Gordon Elliott's mare was strong in the finish that day, knuckling down after State Man appeared to be coming with a winning challenge at the final obstacle.

That was a cracking effort and despite the theory that State Man, now race-fit, will avenge it, the Gigginstown inmate is a powerful foe and could confirm the placings.

Her defeat in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March remains one of 2024's unsolved racing mysteries.

A dawdling pace undid her said Jack Kennedy at the time, but she has been faultless since with her win at Aintree later in the spring and then successes at Down Royal (2m1f, good to yielding) in November before the Morgiana at Punchestown, as she made a smooth move into open company.

There's no mistaking the esteem in which she is held and she's only going to get better.

Sam Ewing has enjoyed a stellar week at Leopardstown, winning Grade 1s on the first two days of the meeting, and that should give him the confidence to ride this mare as if she's the best in the race and will be good enough to see off State Man.

Click the links for the latest Horse Racing Odds and Today's Horse Races

Tune into Betfred Insights regularly to read our Nap of the Day columns