'I honestly thought they were going too fast, this is an incredible performance' - Ruby Walsh astonished by Brighterdaysahead win

Ruby Walsh hailed "one hell of a racemare" Brighterdaysahead after she pulverised the field in the Neville Hotels Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Walsh, who won the two-mile contest on five occasions as a rider, including three times with Hurricane Fly, was working as a pundit for Racing TV and was immediately effusive in his praise for the winner after her sparkling performance under Sam Ewing.

“This is an outstanding performance," Walsh said. "Going left-handed suited her, but she has just galloped these into the ground – 33, 34 miles an hour all the way. Look at where the horse who went with her ends up [King Of Kingsfield], he falls out the back of the television. This is an incredible performance.

“You can argue State Man underperformed, but I don’t care what he’s done. This is an unbelievable performance from the mare. She turned that into an absolute procession. I think she is one hell of a racemare.”

Brighterdaysahead was far too good at LeopardstownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Brighterdaysahead got the better of State Man in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown last month, but the market suggested a reversal of the form was expected, with Gordon Elliott's star sent off 5-2 and State Man, previously unbeaten when completing at Leopardstown, the 4-9 favourite.

Walsh was astonished at how the race panned out, with Brighterdaysahead sitting just off a seemingly strong pace set by King Of Kingsfield. The pack was well back, headed by State Man, but the winner took it up two hurdles from home and finished 30 lengths clear.

He said: "I honestly thought they were going too fast. She was unbelievably comfortable and jumping like a buck, but I thought they were going too hard and they’d have to fall in a hole. It’s like Galopin Des Champs yesterday. This mare pinged the second-last and left King Of Kingsfield stone dead. Sam sent her off the bend and it’s as far as you want. 

"She does slow down a little bit in the end, but I think I remember Faugheen doing something similar in an Irish Champion Hurdle. Fair play to Sam Ewing, he was brave on her. The pace was strong, he sat up there and she jumped like an absolute gazelle for him.”

Read these next:

Thirty lengths! Brighterdaysahead 4-1 for Champion Hurdle after leaving State Man trailing with remarkable Grade 1 success 

The Enabler brings up 2,000th jumps winner for Gordon Elliott in Ireland 

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