Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle
Grade 1, Punchestown 18:00 €300,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1
Tweet Thursday 2nd May 2024

1 Teahupoo 5/6F
2 Asterion Forlonge 13/2
3 Home By The Lee 15/2
4 Buddy One 17/2
11 ran Distances: 6½l, hd, ½l
Time: 5m 56.00s (slow by 27.50s)

🌟 Teahupoo is much the best in the Champion Stayers Hurdle at @punchestownrace!pic.twitter.com/32vcun9Sd6

— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) May 2, 2024

Last year, Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo finished fourth as a 3-1 joint-favorite, but this time around, the seven-year-old, ridden by Jack Kennedy, left no doubt about his supremacy.

Teahupoo traveled menacingly throughout the race, effortlessly pulling away from the enigmatic Asterion Forlonge in the straight to win by six and a half lengths.

Notably, this marks the first time this century that the winner of the equivalent race at the Cheltenham Festival has followed up at the Punchestown Festival.

Teahupoo, owned by Robcour, remains unbeaten this season after successfully defending his Hatton’s Grace crown in December. Paddy Power now trims his odds to 5-2 favorite (from 3-1) for a repeat of his Stayers’ Hurdle heroics at Prestbury Park next March, cementing his reputation as an unstoppable force over three miles and timber.

A delighted Elliott said: “It was great for the horse and great for Jack, he has a big battle (jockeys’ title with Paul Townend) and it’s going to be a long tough week.

“He said he was stuck in a bit of a pocket behind Paul and he had to get out. He said the ground might be as quick as he wants it, but he was very good. He’s a great horse.”

Owner Brian Acheson added: “My main thing is about the horse because all the doubters from last year are now put to bed, and it’s great for Jack. I was really worried coming here because the horse didn’t let himself down on the ground last year.

“He was Robbie Power’s last ride here in the Champion Hurdle and finished last and I was thinking if it would be in the horse’s head. They are emotive creatures and they do remember stuff. By God did he give a performance today and I’m delighted.

“It’s petrifying, it’s torture, because you want the horse to show everybody how good they are. 

“That’s really important for Jack, but Paul Townend isn’t going away.”

There was, however, a sad postscript to the race for the Elliott yard, with Sire Du Berlais suffering a fatal injury. Three times a winner at the Cheltenham Festival, including last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle, the 12-year-old also won the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree twice.

“I’m absolutely heartbroken and he’s been a horse of a lifetime for us at Cullentra,” Elliott told Racing TV. 

“Everyone is in bits over it, the girls and the lads at the yard and he’s been unbelievable so we’re all gutted. 

“Thoughts are with JP, Noreen (McManus) and the whole family and it takes the gloss off the whole week, if I’m honest. I’m heartbroken. 

“He was just a horse of a lifetime and you couldn’t write what he has done for us. He always wore his heart on his sleeve and was a great horse.”

Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle
€300,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Yielding, Good to Yielding in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Teahupoo 7 11-10 Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy 5/6F
2 6½ Asterion Forlonge 10 11-10 W P Mullins Paul Townend 13/2
3 hd Home By The Lee 9 11-10 Joseph O'Brien J J Slevin 15/2
4 ½ Buddy One 7 11-10 Paul John Gilligan Jack G Gilligan 17/2
5 3¾ Whatcouldhavebeen 6 11-3 Jarlath P Fahey Aidan Kelly 50/1
6 4¼ Franciscan Rock 7 11-10 M F Morris Ricky Doyle 66/1
7 13 Lantry Lady 6 11-3 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 9/1
8 21 Monkfish 10 11-10 W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins 18/1
9 Summerville Boy 12 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe 40/1
PU Sire Du Berlais 12 11-10 Gordon Elliott Mark Walsh 14/1
PU No Looking Back 6 11-10 Oliver McKiernan Phillip Enright 100/1

Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2023 Klassical Dream 9 11-10 Mrs Joanne Coleman W P Mullins Paul Townend 3/1J
2022 Klassical Dream 8 11-10 Mrs Joanne Coleman W P Mullins Paul Townend 11/10F
2021 Klassical Dream 7 11-12 Mrs Joanne Coleman W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins 5/1
2020 Abandoned - Covid-19
2019 Unowhatimeanharry 10-11-10 J P McManus H Fry M P Walsh 16/1
2018 Faugheen 10-11-10 Mrs S Ricci Willie Mullins DJ Mullins 11/2
2017 Unowhatimeanharry 9-11-10 J P McManus H Fry N D Fehily 4/1
2016 One Track Mind 6-11-10 Andy Weller W Greatrex Gavin Sheehan 10/1
2015 Jezki 7-11-10 J P McManus Jessica Harrington Mark Walsh 5/2
2014 Jetson 9-11-10 Gerard & Moira McGrath Jessica Harrington Davy Russell 20/1
2013 Quevega 9-11-03 Hammer & Trowel Synd. Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 6/4 Fav
2012 Quevega 8-11-03 Hammer & Trowel Synd. Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 11/10 Fav
2011 Quevega 7-11-05 Hammer & Trowel Synd. Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 8/11 Fav
2010 Quevega 6-11-05 Hammer & Trowel Synd. Willie Mullins Paul Townend 5/2 Fav
2009 Fiveforthree 7-11-10 Olde Crowbars Syndicate Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 5/4 Fav
2008 Blazing Bailey 6-11-10 Three Line Whip Alan King GB Robert Thornton 100/30 Fav
2007 Refinement 8-11-07 Michael Tabor Jonjo O’Neill GB A P McCoy 16/1
2006 Asian Maze 7-11-07 Sheila Moore Tom Mullins Ruby Walsh 8/13 Fav
2005 Carlys Quest 11-11-12 Mrs L Neville Ferdy Murphy GB Keith Mercer 25/1
2004 Rhinestone Cowboy 8-11-12 Sue Magnier Jonjo O’Neill GB Mr J P Magnier 5/2
2003 Holy Orders 6-11-12 Alan McLuckie Willie Mullins Shay Barry 6/1
2002 Limestone Lad 10-11-12 James Bowe James Bowe Paul Carberry 4/6 Fav
*2001 Bannow Bay 6-11-12 Linda Shanahan Christy Roche Charlie Swan 11/8 Fav
2000 Rubhahunish 9-11-11 Lone Star Racing P’ship Nigel Twiston-Davies GB Carl Llewellyn 5/1
1999 Anzum 8-12-00 Old Foresters Partnership David Nicholson GB Richard Johnson 7/1
1998 Derrymoyle 9-12-00 Herb M Stanley Michael Cunningham A P McCoy 10/1
1997 Paddy’s Return 5-11-12 Paddy O’Donnell Ferdy Murphy GB Norman Williamson 100/30
1996 Derrymoyle 7-12-00 Herb M Stanley Michael Cunningham Mark Dwyer 100/30
1995 Derrymoyle 6-11-11 Herb M Stanley Michael Cunningham Mark Dwyer 8/1
1994 Ultra Flutter 7-10-06 Donal Higgins Michael Hourigan Kevin O’Brien 7/2
1993 Always In Trouble 6-10-02 Margaret O’Rourke Michael O’Brien Jason Titley 8/1
1992 Shuil Ar Aghaidh 6-10-01 Mrs P Kiely Paddy Kiely Charlie Swan 2/1 Fav
* Run at Fairyhouse