Better Days Ahead (IRE)
Better Days Ahead is a Milan gelding who has five wins from 17 starts on turf, including a Grade 2 success in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Novice Chase at Navan in Feb 2025. He won twice at Navan, twice at Fairyhouse and once at Cheltenham, with all five wins on soft or heavy ground over trips between 1m5f and 3m. Typically held up, he last ran in the Boyle Sports Irish Grand National Chase at Fairyhouse in Apr 2026, finishing 6 of 30 off his career-high mark of 154.
- 5–17Wins / Runs
- 29.4%Strike rate
- 7 (41.2%)Placed
- −2.40£1 level staken=17 at SP
- 1.02Fair A/E n=17 · 0.89 incl. margin
- 154Highest OR
- 78dAvg between runs
A/E compares actual wins with what starting prices implied. "Fair" strips the bookmaker margin from the expectation, so favourites and longshots are judged on the same footing — figures near 1.00 mean the market priced this horse about right.
KTB Speed and Rating
Best recent Speed 115
How fast the horse ran, as points against the day-corrected standard time for its course and distance: 100 is the median GB Class 4 handicap winner on that code; one point is 0.1% of the standard time. A, B or C is how much the day's card could tell us, not how good the run was. What this means →
| Going | Runs | Best | Median | Since 1 Nov 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy | 7 | 121B | 110 | 2 runs · 115 / 112.5 |
| Soft | 4 | 94B | 89 | 1 run · — |
| Good to Soft | 3 | 111A | 106 | — |
| Distance | Runs | Best | Median | Since 1 Nov 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2m5f – 3m | 6 | 121B | 108.5 | 1 run · — |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 4 | 110C | 95.5 | 1 run · — |
| Over 3m | 2 | 91C | 87.5 | 1 run · — |
| 1m5f – 2m | 2 | 120C | 107 | — |
Of 17 runs looked at, 3 have no figure: not enough races on the card to set the day (under 4) (2) · obstacles omitted — the race ran a shortened course (1).
KTB Speed v1 · batch 15 Sep 2026 · GB & Irish racing only · 14 figures from 17 runs · as at 3 Oct 2026 · a record, not a forecast
Both figures are KTB's own, computed from the archive; no vendor rating enters either. Every run's figure is on its form line below with its grade. Grades measure how much the archive could see, never the merit of the run.
Run style from 8 analysed runs since Nov 2024
- Prominent 6 (75%) · 1 win
- Held up 1 (13%) · 0 wins
- Led 1 (13%) · 1 win
Pedigree intelligence
Progeny in our archive have won 11.3% of 16,866 runs since Aug 2008 (1,463 horses).
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firm | 18 | 1 | 5.6% | −5.7 | — |
| Good to Firm | 553 | 66 | 11.9% | +0.6 | — |
| Good | 5,174 | 650 | 12.6% | +1.3 | — |
| Good to Soft | 3,298 | 386 | 11.7% | +0.4 | 0 from 3 |
| Soft | 5,034 | 502 | 10% | −1.3 | 2 from 6 |
| Heavy | 2,716 | 303 | 11.2% | −0.1 | 3 from 8 |
| Standard (AW) | 73 | 2 | 2.7% | −8.6 | — |
| Distance (all codes) | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6f – 7f | 3 | 0 | 0% | −11.3 | — |
| 1m – 1m1f | 9 | 1 | 11.1% | −0.2 | — |
| 1m2f – 1m4f | 58 | 3 | 5.2% | −6.1 | — |
| 1m5f – 2m | 3,858 | 402 | 10.4% | −0.9 | 1 from 3 |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 5,480 | 599 | 10.9% | −0.4 | 2 from 5 |
| 2m5f – 3m | 5,808 | 700 | 12.1% | +0.8 | 2 from 7 |
| Over 3m | 1,650 | 205 | 12.4% | +1.1 | 0 from 2 |
Flat and jumps together (all codes) · since Aug 2008 · as at 31 Oct 2026 · rows under 30 runs muted · win % is the measure, a record not a forecast
10 siblings in the archive, 3 winners — best of them Milan Bound (IRE) (6 wins).
The wins came over 2m–3m2½f; the highest grade won is Class 2 (Milan Bound (IRE)).
| Produce | Runs | Wins | Win trips | Best grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milan Bound (IRE) | 22 | 6 | 2m–3m2½f | Class 2 |
| Acey (IRE) | 6 | 2 | 2m–2m3f | — |
| Khalessi (IRE) | 17 | 2 | 2m½f–2m3f | — |
| Fongs Way (IRE) | 14 | 0 | — | — |
| The Right Profile (IRE) | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| The Bishops Niece (IRE) | 10 | 0 | — | — |
| Unheralded (IRE) | 9 | 0 | — | — |
| Four Horsemen (IRE) | 21 | 0 | — | — |
| Golander (IRE) | 22 | 0 | — | — |
| Sorrel Sue (IRE) | 7 | 0 | — | — |
Record by conditions
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy | 8 | 3 | 38% | +0.72 |
| Soft | 6 | 2 | 33% | −0.12 |
| Good to Soft | 3 | 0 | 0% | −3.00 |
| Class | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Class 2 | 1 | 1 | 100% | +5.00 |
| Course | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navan | 6 | 2 | 33% | −1.50 |
| Fairyhouse | 4 | 2 | 50% | +0.10 |
| Cheltenham | 3 | 1 | 33% | +3.00 |
| Down Royal | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Leopardstown | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Punchestown | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Distance | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2m5f – 3m | 7 | 2 | 29% | −4.28 |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 5 | 2 | 40% | +4.00 |
| 1m5f – 2m | 3 | 1 | 33% | −0.12 |
| Over 3m | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Kennedy | 5 | 2 | 40% | −0.78 |
| Danny Gilligan | 4 | 1 | 25% | +2.00 |
| Mr J J Codd | 3 | 1 | 33% | −0.12 |
| Mr R James | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Sam Ewing | 2 | 1 | 50% | −0.50 |
| Jordan Gainford | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Headgear | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tongue tie | 14 | 4 | 29% | −2.28 |
| None | 3 | 1 | 33% | −0.12 |
| Season | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 0 | 0% | −3.00 |
| 2025 | 3 | 1 | 33% | −1.50 |
| 2024 | 5 | 2 | 40% | +4.00 |
| 2023 | 4 | 1 | 25% | −2.78 |
| 2022 | 2 | 1 | 50% | +0.88 |
| Type | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase | 7 | 2 | 29% | −2.50 |
| Hurdle | 7 | 2 | 29% | +0.22 |
| NH Flat | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Flat | 1 | 1 | 100% | +1.88 |
Splits include every sample, however small — muted rows are under 3 runs. A one-from-one record is a fact, not a trend: read the Runs column before the strike rate.
Form
| Date | Course | Race | Pos | Btn | Wgt | OR | Spd | KTB | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 · 3 runs | ||||||||||
| 06 Apr 26+37d | Fairyhouse | BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National Chase (Extended Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) Held up towards back of the pack - still down in 13th and under pressure nearing 3 out where bumped - stayed on same gear to finish sixth | 6/30 | 3¾ | 11-5 | 154 | 91C | 135C | Mr R James | 11/1 |
| 28 Feb 26+20d | Navan | BOYLE Sports Webster Cup Chase (Grade 2) Settled off the front pack early - up to third with three left - pushed along and into fourth two out - found extra to move second approaching the last - unable to trouble the winner on the run to the line - finished second | 2/4 | 2¼ | 11-8 | 152 | 110C | 148B | Sam Ewing | 5/1 |
| 08 Feb 26+293d | Navan | William Hill Boyne Hurdle (Grade 2) Tracked the pack early - third at halfway - faded to fifth with three left - driven to reduce the gap two out - forced along in third before the last - hit that flight lightly - rallied for second at the finish but couldn't reel in the winner | 2/6 | 2½ | 11-3 | 145 | 115B | 138B | Danny Gilligan | 10/3 |
| 2025 · 3 runs | ||||||||||
| 21 Apr 25+40d | Fairyhouse | BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase (Extended Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) Sat behind front group early - 7th at halfway - driven into straight without gaining ground and stayed one-paced from three out home | 6/30 | 3 | 11-5 | 154 | 84B | 133A | Mr R James | 16/1 |
| 12 Mar 25+31d | Cheltenham | Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Broadway Novices' Chase) (GBB Race) Sat close to the pace throughout - pushed along after the second-last - unable to reel in the leader and edged out for second near the line | 3/7 | hd | 11-7 | 152 | 85A | 144B | Jack Kennedy | 13/2 |
| 09 Feb 25+45d | Navan | William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Novice Chase (Grade 2) Sat second early - moved up to head affairs 4 out - driven approaching final two furlongs and edge cut back under pressure inside closing stages - rallied to prevail on the line | 1/5 | 11-3 | 152 | 63C | 135B | Sam Ewing | 1/2F | |
| 2024 · 5 runs | ||||||||||
| 26 Dec 24+39d | Leopardstown | Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase (Grade 1) Sat behind the pace - third with four to jump - into second and driven approaching two out - unable to get to winner from the last - stayed on strongly to the line but denied by a short margin | 2/4 | hd | 11-10 | — | 106C | 147B | Danny Gilligan | 10/11F |
| 17 Nov 24+200d | Navan | Race And Stay Irish EBF Beginners Chase Set the pace from the off - stumbled at the 4th - challenged approaching the straight - drifted left three out under pressure - edged left once more two out before easing clear approaching the last - stayed on strongly to the line | 1/4 | 11-12 | — | 81C | 144C | Jack Kennedy | 2/1 | |
| 01 May 24+47d | Punchestown | Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle (grade 1) | 3/7 | 4¼ | 11-10 | 145 | 111A | 139A | Danny Gilligan | 9/2 |
| 15 Mar 24+55d | Cheltenham | Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) | 1/21 | 11-7 | 140 | 104B | 149A | Danny Gilligan | 5/1 | |
| 20 Jan 24+42d | Navan | Race Displays Rated Novice Hurdle | 2/5 | 10 | 11-13 | 134 | 120C | 145B | Jack Kennedy | 3/1 |
| 2023 · 4 runs | ||||||||||
| 09 Dec 23+15d | Navan | Tote Navan Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) | 4/5 | ½ | 11-3 | — | — | 138B | Jordan Gainford | 5/1 |
| 24 Nov 23+14d | Fairyhouse | Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com Maiden Hurdle | 1/7 | 11-12 | — | 121B | 137A | Jack Kennedy | 2/9F | |
| 10 Nov 23+240d | Down Royal | Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden Hurdle | F/15 | — | 11-12 | — | — | — | Jack Kennedy | 8/15F |
| 15 Mar 23+101d | Cheltenham | Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) | 16/21 | 2 | 11-7 | 123 | 94B | 123A | Mr J J Codd | 10/1 |
| 2022 · 2 runs | ||||||||||
| 04 Dec 22+30d | Fairyhouse | Bar One Racing Giving Cash Back Daily (Pro/Am) Flat Race | 1/5 | 11-7 | — | — | 83C | Mr J J Codd | 15/8 | |
| 04 Nov 22 | Down Royal | Workpal Flat Race | 2/3 | 1¼ | 11-7 | — | 87C | 127C | Mr J J Codd | 1/3F |
Quick answers
- How many races has Better Days Ahead won?
- Better Days Ahead (IRE) won 5 of 17 archived starts between 2022 and 2026, a strike rate of 29.4%. Placed 7 times in total (41.2% of starts).
- Who trains Better Days Ahead?
- Better Days Ahead (IRE) is trained by Gordon Elliott, who saddled the horse on its most recent run on 6 April 2026.
- Who is Better Days Ahead's sire?
- Better Days Ahead (IRE) is by Milan (GB) out of Bonnie And Bright (IRE), whose sire is Topanoora.
- What going does Better Days Ahead prefer?
- Better Days Ahead (IRE) has the best record on heavy going: 3 wins from 8 starts (37.5%). Only going bands with at least three archived starts are read, so this is a direction rather than a settled preference.
- What is Better Days Ahead's official rating?
- The most recent official rating on record is 154, from the run on 6 April 2026. That is also the highest on record.
- What is Better Days Ahead's sire's record?
- Milan (GB)'s progeny in our archive have won 11.3% of 16,866 runs since Aug 2008 (1,463 horses), Flat and jumps together.
- Who are Better Days Ahead's siblings?
- Out of Bonnie And Bright (IRE), Better Days Ahead (IRE) has 10 other produce in our archive, 3 of them winners. Most wins: Milan Bound (IRE) (6). Highest grade won: Class 2 (Milan Bound (IRE)). The wins came over 2m–3m2½f. As at Nov 2026.