Teahupoo caused a shock in the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle as Honeysuckle’s unbeaten run came to an end at Fairyhouse.
Henry De Bromhead’s mare has begun her season by winning this contest in each of the last three years and went to post looking to create history by becoming the first four-time winner of the Grade One hurdle.
Starting what is likely to be her last season in training, everything seemed to be going to plan for the eight-year-old and her ever-present accomplice Rachael Blackmore when they cruised to the lead two from home.
But Willie Mullins’ Klassical Dream and Teahupoo were in striking distance at the final flight, and it was Gordon Elliott’s 20-1 shot who pulled out most in the closing stages to prevail on the line.
Elliott and jockey Jack Kennedy were completing a Grade One double after Mighty Potter’s success in the Drinmore Novice Chase earlier on the card.
Teahupoo had been comprehensively beaten by Honeysuckle at both Cheltenham and Punchestown last term, but Elliott felt conditions may have been against his charge on those occasions, with Fairyhouse’s soft ground a much better fit.
This is the official YouTube channel of Racing TV.
Racing TV is the UK's leading horse racing channel showing live racing from the best racecourses in Great Britain and Ireland.
Subscribe to Racing TV's free YouTube channel and get closer to the sport we all love. We will bring you unmissable moments from the world of racing, exclusive interviews and highlights from our specialist shows. So, if you love horse racing, this is the YouTube channel for you ► https://bit.ly/2RHbyMa
You can also find us on Sky 426 or Virgin Media 536 (411 in Ireland). Click here to find out more - https://t.co/xkJ0xBrDcm
Also watch Racing TV at racingtv.com, the iPhone iPad app, Android app and mobile website. Click here to download the app - https://t.co/CwcklwUMHs
