Teahupoo targets Stayers’ Hurdle gold
TEAHUPOO will look to strike when fresh in today’s Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle for Gordon Elliott at the Cheltenham Festival.
The seven-year-old was beaten just three-quarters of a length in the same race last year and returned to action this season in good form to take the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle ahead of Impaire Et Passe at Fairyhouse
in early December. He has not run since then and is expected to benefit that as he is proven to go well after a brief break.
“We’re looking forward to Teahupoo in the Stayers’ and he seems in really good form,” said Robbie Power, racing manager to owner Robcour.
“It was a very good performance in the Hatton’s Grace and we’ve changed things up this year coming straight here.
“The big thing for him is he’s a better horse when he’s fresh and all his runs after a 50-odd day break he has won. We think that is the key to him. He didn’t get the rub of the green in the race last year and hopefully if things go well this year he will take plenty of beating. He deserves to win a Stayers’ and we’re giving him every chance.”
Elliott also runs reigning champion Sire Du Berlais, who followed up last year’s victory with success in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.
Flooring Porter landed the race in both 2021 and 2022 before finishing fourth last season, after which he switched to jumping fences in the first half of the current campaign.
The British challenge is led by Fergal O’Brien’s Crambo, winner of the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
Henry de Bromhead is confident the lack of a recent run will not harm Envoi Allen’s chances of becoming the third horse to claim back-toback wins in the Ryanair Chase.
Albertas Run did the double for Jonjo O’Neill in 2010 and 2011, while Allaho struck twice for Willie Mullins in 2021 and 2022.
De Bromhead can take heart from the fact the former was a 10-year-old when successfully defending his title and there is also a link to the latter, who carried the same Cheveley Park Stud colours as Envoi Allen.
Last year, Envoi Allen kept on well to see off Shishkin in this race, which made it three Cheltenham Festival victories following the 2019 Champion Bumper and 12 months later prevailing in what is now known as the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle.
“He seems in mighty form, we’re happy with him, so fingers crossed,” said the County Waterford handler.
“I’m not at all worried that he hasn’t run since Down Royal; he’s fit and well, he’s worked well and he runs well fresh.”
Yorkshire has its first runner of the week, when Middleham trainer Ben Haslam’s Ciel De Niege goes in the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (4.10).
Ridden by Richie McLernon, the former Willie Mullins inmate, who finished third in the Fred Winter at the 2019 Festival, but is one of the outsiders in the 21-horse field for the two-mile four furlong renewal.
North Yorkshire-based Champion Jockey, Brian Hughes, rides Titanium Moon for Donald McCain in the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle (4.50).