Teahupoo denied the late charge of Ballyburn to win his third BAR 1 Betting Hatton’s Grace Hurdle by the narrowest of margins.
Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo claimed this Grade One prize in 2022 and 2023 and while Lossiemouth denied him the hat-trick last season, 12 months on he had another chance to join Limestone Lad, Solerina, Apple’s Jade and Honeysuckle as a three-time winner under Jack Kennedy.
It was far from straightforward for the even-money favourite, who had to work hard to get on terms with his stablemate Casheldale Lad in the home straight, but appeared to have his measure when the latter crashed out at the final flight.
The race was far from over, however, with the Willie Mullins-trained Ballyburn – reverting to hurdles following a disappointing end to his novice chasing campaign last term – powering home after a patient ride from Paul Townend to set up a grandstand finish.
Ballyburn was making up ground hand over fist as the line loomed, but the post came just in time for Teahupoo to cling on by a nose.
“Jordan (Gainford, riding 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 and 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 not a two-and-a-half miler, he’s a three-mile horse – he’s slow and he’s not getting any younger, but he’s got the heart of a lion.
“He’s a warrior of a horse and we’re so lucky to have him. ”
Paddy Power cut Teahupoo’s odds to win a second Stayers’ Hurdle to 5-2 from 100-30, but make Ballyburn their 2-1 favourite from 7-2.
When asked if the winner would follow the same route as he has in each of the past two seasons by not running again between the Hatton’s Grace and the Cheltenham Festival in March, Elliott 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 (at Christmas) would have to come up very soft for him to run there, we’ll see.”
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