ELLIOTT: I AM POSITIVE JACK WILL RIDE TEA
BY
GORDON ELLIOTT says he’ll be “shocked” if Jack Kennedy doesn’t ride Teahupoo in next month’s Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The Meath-based trainer (inset, top) holds a very strong hand in the Festival’s third day feature with last year’s runner-up Teahupoo joined by Irish Point — also owned by Brian Acheson’s Robocur.
Irish Point won a Grade 1 Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas and is currently the sponsor’s 3-1 jointfavourite with his stablemate, who hasn’t been seen since winning the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse in early December.
“We’re very happy with Teahupoo. We’ve gone straight from Hatton’s Grace. He’s in good form and I’ll be shocked if Jack (inset, bottom) doesn’t ride him,” said Elliott yesterday.
“He’s a proven stayer. We’ve minded him for the race but might go to France with him after Cheltenham.”
“He handled the ground last year, and I don’t think it’ll be any quicker this year.”
Kennedy will have the choice as stable jockey and has ridden both horses to their two Grade 1 wins this season but he admits to not having made any decision yet on which one he’ll ride — but admits it’s going to be his toughest call of the week.
“There are a few things to take into consideration. I wouldn’t be able to tell you which one yet,” said Kennedy.
“It’s very tough. They’re very different horses. It’s probably a bit easier that they’re in the same ownership but it’s whichever one has the best chance that I’ll be on.“
Elliot dramatically won the race 12 months ago with Sire Du Berlais at 33-1 and expects the veteran 12-year-old to defend his crown and bid for an incredible fourth Festival win having also won the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle in 2020 and 2021.
“Sire Du Berlais is in the Stayers Hurdle too. He won it last year, he won at Aintree and was just beaten in Punchestown. He worked very well on Saturday and likes it when the sun comes out. He seems to like Cheltenham as well.”
The JP Mcmanus owned gelding has been one of Elliott’s unsung heroes in recent years but has won €860,000 in prize-money and warmed up for his title defence with an eye-catching run in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan.
“We nearly have to ride him out twice a day, swim him twice a day, he’s so laid back, to keep the weight off him. He’s been the horse of a lifetime, to be honest.
“He’s a bit like myself. He doesn’t look for it. He just wants to win. That’s all he wants to do.”
Elliott plans on sending a team of over 50 horses to the Cotswolds as he bids to add to his all-time haul of 37 Festival winners.
It’s now eight years since he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Don Cossack but the 45-year-old believes he has a real chance in this year’s race with Gerri Colombe.
Elliott said: “He’s in good form. I think Galopin Des Champs has been awesome this year, I don’t know how we’re going to beat him.
“But our boy’s great. He’s not flashy, he doesn’t do anything fancy and he’s in great form.”