Teahupoo is set to make an impact in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at the upcoming Cheltenham Festival under the guidance of trainer Gordon Elliott. The seven-year-old narrowly missed out on victory in the same event last year but made a strong comeback this season by triumphing in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in early December.
Having not competed since then, Teahupoo is anticipated to benefit from the break, as he has shown a tendency to perform well after a period of rest. Racing manager Robbie Power, representing owner Robcour, expressed optimism about Teahupoo's form and highlighted that the horse excels when fresh, often winning races following a brief hiatus.
In addition to Teahupoo, Elliott will also field reigning champion Sire Du Berlais in the Stayers’ Hurdle. Flooring Porter, who previously clinched victory in the race in 2021 and 2022 before transitioning to fences, will return to hurdling this year in pursuit of a third win. Trainer Gavin Cromwell is confident in Flooring Porter's abilities and is looking forward to the competition.
The British contingent is led by Crambo, trained by Fergal O’Brien, who claimed victory in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in his last outing. The talented seven-year-old has shown remarkable progress in his career and boasts an impressive record of seven wins from 10 starts.
Other notable contenders include Dashel Drasher, Paisley Park, Sir Gerhard, Asterion Forlonge, Janidil, Noble Yeats, Home By The Lee, and Buddy One. Each trainer is optimistic about their respective horses' chances and is eagerly anticipating the challenging yet exciting competition at the Festival.