Fabulous four-timer for Elliott and Kennedy as Teahupoo clings on

The rich lustre of the action in Fairyhouse got even better when Teahupoo clung on by the narrowest margin after a dramatic and exciting renewal of the Grade 1 Hatton's Grace Hurdle over two and a-half miles.

In doing so, the even-money favourite won his third Hatton's Grace in four years. He gave Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy a four-timer on the card after victories by Mange Tout Koktail Brut and Romeo Coolio

He was making his seasonal reappearance in this two and a-half miler and was able to track stablemate and front-runner Casheldale Lad down to the penultimate flight.

Casheldale Lad refused to yield, though, and was making Teahupoo work on the run to the last. Teahuppo was fractionally in front jumping it, however, Casheldale Lad got it wrong and crashed out thereby hampering and unseating Mystical Power in fourth.

Backers of Teahupoo were far from home as Ballyburn reverting back to flights, was left second on the run-in and was galvanised for a power-packed finish by Paul Townend.

The gap was whittled away in the closing stages and Teahupoo was all out close home as they flashed past together. The judge gave it to Teahupoo by a nose over the 13/8 runner-up.

“Jordan (Gainford on Casheldale Lad) did a wonderful job in front, he got the fractions just right. Jack said he couldn’t have gone another gear faster,” said Elliott.

“When you take a horse out of their comfort zone early in those type of races, it’s very hard.

“We knew we were rolling the dice coming back to two-and-a-half miles, but it just looked like the perfect starting point for him.

“He’s a warrior of a horse and we’re so lucky to have him. It’s great for Jack.

“We’re here in Fairyhouse, one of my local courses. We have a lot of friends and a lot of Meath supporters here on Meath GAA Day. It’s very important and I’m absolutely thrilled.

“If the ground was like it was last year, we wouldn’t have come here.

“He’s not a two-and-a-half miler, he’s a three mile horse — he’s slow and he’s not getting any younger.

“He’s got a heart like a lion and we said we’d take our chance. We wouldn’t have wanted another day's drying though. He was at the pin of his collar to go with him, even in that race.

“I’m getting the bounce of the ball at the moment and, another day, it will be someone else. I’ve had plenty of days where I didn’t get the bounce of the ball.”

When asked if he would head straight to Cheltenham now, he added: “Probably, but that’s not concrete. You mind a horse for a race all year and then get a stone bruise, anything can happen.

“We’re not saying he’s going to run again, but we’re not ruling it out either.

“Leopardstown would have to come up very soft for him to run at it - we’ll see.”

Robcour representative Robbie Power said: “Unfortunately, they are not here. Brian is in London and Rob (Acheson) is in Newmarket - they have other things on, but this is great.

“It’s been the plan, every year he starts off in the Hatton’s Grace and he’s won three out of the last four now.

“He’s a fabulous horse, just a great racehorse and real tough."

Jack Kennedy added: Unbelievable (day)! A year ago today I couldn't even bear to watch the racing, so a day like this is brilliant.

"He's a legend!

"I suppose the ground was borderline probably not going to be soft enough for him today, but he was very tough and everything,

"He's a great horse and has been an unbelievable horse for my career.

"I was happy enough, we were going a nice gallop. I was jumping well, never missed a beat the whole way. He probably got in under the last a little bit, lost a small bit of momentum, but he was very tough from the back of the last to the line.

"I had a fair idea it was him (Ballyburn coming) - I had the measure of Casheldale Lad and I could feel something coming behind me on my outside down to the last.

"Like I said, I probably lost that small bit of momentum and as soon as we landed at the back of the last, I knew who it was.

"To be fair, this lad was very tough."

On Ballyburn, Paul Townend said: "It was very tight as you saw.

"It is a good place to start him back, I suppose.

"We can take plenty from it.

"We'll take the highs and the lows together.

"I thought he was a happier horse over the obstacles anyway - one or two you could see he had jumped fences, especially when I needed him.

"When he was tanking along with me and galloping at them, he'd be fine, and I thought it was always going to be when we put the gun to his head to see what he would do. He seemed happier overall over them, I thought."

Interestingly, Paddy Power made Ballyburn 2/1 favourite from 7/2 for the Stayers' Hurdle, and Teahupoo 5/2 from 10/3f for the same race.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson