THE Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown today looks one of the most competitive Grade Ones of the week and Teahupoo gets the vote in the day-three feature.
Gordon Elliott’s charge is the youngest horse in the field and has really blossomed into a top-class stayer this season.
He claimed the scalp of Klassical Dream on his return to action in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse in December before an impressive victory in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran the following month.
The Masked Marvel gelding went to post a solid favourite in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham and looked a touch unlucky in running at Prestbury Park.
Having been held up well off the pace the six-year-old made smooth headway going to the second last.
He came under pressure when chasing the leaders down to the last and making up that ground may have taken a bit out of him.
To be fair he knuckled down and was staying on from the final flight when hampered a couple of times by the eventual runner-up Dashel Drasher.
Having initially been promoted to second on the day he was placed third again after an appeal, which looked a touch harsh.
Given a clearer run today, and travelling a bit closer to the pace, he is fancied to turn the tables now on Cheltenham winner Sire Du Berlais.
His stablemate was a 33/1 shot when scoring last month but has gone on to win again at Aintree and is in the form of his life at the age of 11.
The fact that Teahupoo (above) comes here a fresher horse and has youth on his side could make the difference now. We probably haven’t seen the best of him yet.
Willie Mullins saddles four in the race and Paul Townend keeps the faith in Klassical Dream.
The nine-year-old was well beaten in the Stayers Hurdle last month but has won this race for the past two years so it would be dangerous to discount him.
Monkfish ran well on his return at Fairyhouse and is another that has to come into the mix but Teahupoo is fancied to gain compensation for an unlucky defeat at Cheltenham.
The other Grade 1 contest on the card sees Mullins saddles another hotpot and he has three of the four runners in the two-mile novice chase.
El Fabiolo has been very impressive at the trip this season and ran out a convincing winner of the Arkle at Cheltenham last month.
The runner-up Jonbon has advertised that form since and the Spanish Moon gelding is hard to oppose as he bids to make it four from four over fences this term.
Dysart Dynamo was a bit too keen when falling in the Arkle, when fading in third, and if he gets an easier lead in this he could be the one to give his stablemate most to do.
Enda Bolger has had more competition over the banks race in recent years but he can land another La Touche with Stealthy Tom.
The Yeats gelding had a pipe opener over hurdles at Cork recently and that should have left him spot on for his return to this discipline.
He was a cosy winner over the course here in February and this race was nominated immediately after that victory.
It’s good to see some British raiders on the card today and Douglas Talking looks to have a big shout for the Grand National winning team of Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox in the two-mile handicap chase.
