7 Tips for Cheltenham - No. 5 Teahupoo

Last spring, trainer Gordon Elliott repeatedly informed the public that Sire Du Berlais was in buoyant form ahead of the Stayers’ Hurdle. Those punters who listened were counting their money as the old boy powered up the hill to record a 33-1 shock victory.

We should take note, once again, as Elliott is firm in his belief that he can strike again on Thursday with Robcour’s 2-1 favourite, Teahupoo.

The Cullentra trainer is confident that his smart nine-time winner can improve on last year’s performance, when he finished only three-quarters of a length behind his victorious stablemate. Tactics have been changed with this admirable type and he has matured and strengthened ahead of the Festival.

Trainer: Gordon Elliott

Jockey: Jack Kennedy

Owner: Robcour

Race record: 1-1121119611341

Teahupoo has been carefully campaigned for this year’s race as he arrives at Cheltenham a fresh horse. The public have seen him only once this season, when he won the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle for the second time in superb style in December.

The seven-year-old looked to have improved dramatically that day at Fairyhouse when readily beating the Willie Mullins-trained Impaire Et Passe and talented mare, Ashroe Diamond, over an inadequate trip.

Trainer Elliott was positive following that victory and said:

“We knew he was in good nick but obviously Willie’s horse was going to be hard to beat over two and a half miles and we know our lad wants three. Jack gave him a wonderful ride and was very clever on him, squeezed him along and said he was going to have one go at him between the last two.”

“The horse has got a lot stronger. He’s only a young horse and didn’t do much wrong last year. We are going to do things a bit different this year and the plan is to go straight for the Stayers’ Hurdle now. We might have knocked the edge off him in Gowran last year.”

Soft ground is certainly a preference for Teahupoo but Elliott does not believe it will be any worse than last year.

Sire Du Berlais once again takes his chance, but Elliott doesn’t seem to hold quite the same confidence in the evergreen twelve-year-old as he did 365 days ago.

The biggest danger to Teahupoo looks to be Crambo, who is the big hope to provide Fergal O’Brien with his first Festival victory and represents a serious threat. A progressive winner of the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December, he should be on your shortlist.

Noble Yeats entered the picture when a fine winner of the Cleeve Hurdle at Prestbury Park on Cheltenham Trials day, holding off 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle winner, Paisley Park. The Emmet Mullins-trained Grand National winner is a serious contender.

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