Teahupoo ended his season on a high note when recording back-to-back victories in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown this evening.

The Gordon Elliott-trained had to settle for second on his only other two starts this season, most recently when chasing home Bob Olinger in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham.

He made no mistake today though, surging clear in the closing stages to beat the admirable veteran Asterion Forlonge by four-and-a-quarter lengths.

Sam Ewing took closer order three from home on the Masked Marvel gelding and drove his mount up to dispute turning for home.

He started to edge on from Winter Fog going to the last and galloped on powerfully on the run-in to settle matters.

Elliott said:- “This horse has got me out of trouble a few times and he’s done it again. He’s a star of a horse.

“I was panicking turning in to be honest. If we had a couple of winners, I’d have had my chest out.

“He’s so laidback at home and you nearly start questioning yourself ‘is he a bit heavy going around the ring’.

“Sam gave him a no-nonsense ride and kept it very straight forward. I’m very lucky to have the riders I have, the staff I have and the owners.

“I was dreaming last night if Teahupoo could win today and Meath could win the Leinster Final it would finish off what has been a rough season to be a great season.”

Ewing told RTE:- “I’m delighted for the horse, the Robcour team and Gordon.

“He was a bit unlucky to run into Lossiemouth and unlucky to be beaten at Cheltenham but it’s absolutely brilliant that he’s won today.

“Gordon said to me ‘kick it on off the bend’. Jack (Kennedy) did something similar last year on him.

“It was hustle and bustle but I pulled him out a bit wider than I was because I just wasn’t happy with how it was going to unfold going down the back and thankfully I got a nice possy then.

“He was unbeaten last year, he had two very good runs this year and it’s just brilliant that he’s won a Grade 1 again.”

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)