It’s Tea time for Elliott in the Stayers’ Hurdle

TEAHUPOO can go a couple of places better than last year and win the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.30pm) on day three of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.

The Gordon Elliott-trained sevenyear-old was third behind stable-mate, the admirable veteran Sire Du Berlais, in the Grade One feature of the third day at Prestbury Park last year.

And although last year’s winner is now a 12-year-old, he has already shown over the past couple of seasons at Cheltenham and the Randox Grand

National Festival at Aintree Racecourse that he can still win on the biggest days. But surely his younger stable-mate is set to improve past him and triumph in the three-mile contest.

Teahupoo has not won at the top level over three miles – his did score at Grade Two at Gowran Park last January – as he was fourth in the Punchestown Stayers’ Hurdle following last year’s Cheltenham third.

But on his one run this season he did land a first Grade One victory in the extended 2m4f Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December and if he can transfer that form to this longer distance he looks the one to beat.

Former winners Sire Du Berlais and Paisley Park could both make the frame, while Fergal O’brien’s Long Walk Hurdle hero Crambo should also be in the mix.

Henry De Bromhead’s ENVOI ALLEN can land back-to-back victories and become the third dual winner of the Grade One Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy) (GBB Race) (2.50pm).

Albertas Run (2010-11) and Allaho (2021-22) are the only horses to have won the 2m4f contest twice since it was added to Cheltenham Festival schedule in 2005.

And Envoi Allen can follow in their hoofprints with a second success. The 10-year-old has not won since last March, but has been tried over longer distances and was a good second over three miles to Gerri Colombe in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal back in November. He has been off the track since, but back down to his ideal trip he can give De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore another Grade One win at Cheltenham.

The Paul Nicholls-trained GINNY’S DESTINY can give the home team a winner in the Grade One Turners Novices’ Chase (Registered As The Golden Miller) (GBB Race) (1.30pm).

The eight-year-old has won three from four over fences this season, all at this distance and at Cheltenham.

He steps up to Grade One company following that latest success at Prestbury Park when beating Theatre Man in a Handicap Chase at the end of January. But Ginny’s Destiny can take it in his stride to bring up a four-timer.

Jonjo O’neill has won the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (2.10pm) three times in the past and looks to have a couple of decent contenders in SPRINGWELL BAY and Judicial Law this time.

Preference is for the former, who won at Cheltenham over 2m5f in the