Elliott backing Tea for two Stayers’ Hurdle victories

Gordon Elliott is confident Teahupoo is better than ever ahead of his defence of the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.

The eight-year-old came home three and three-quarter lengths clear of Flooring Porter at Prestbury Park last year and followed that up with another Grade One success when landing the Punchestown Festival equivalent six weeks later.

He enjoyed a 213-day break after that double and on his reappearance in December was beaten into second by Lossiemouth in Fairyhouse’s Hatton’s Grace Hurdle – a race in which he had edged out Impaire Et Passe by a length a year previously.

Elliott said: “He’s been brilliant and I think his form going into the race this year is probably better than last year – getting beat by Lossiemouth I think is better form than just beating Impaire Et Passe the year before.

“The race wasn’t really run to suit him in Fairyhouse this year, the tempo of the race and giving 7lb to Lossiemouth. I felt it was a better run than the previous year myself.

“It is a bit frustrating not to be running him more often as I like to get my horses out and let people see them, but I suppose when you’re running over that distance, you kind of have to pick and choose your battles. And when you did it last year and it worked, why would you break it?”

Teahupoo’s stablemate The Wallpark is another Elliott fancies to get in the money.

The seven-year-old reeled off four straight victories last year, which included beating Gowel Road into second place at Cheltenham in October.

He finished fourth behind Crambo last time out at Ascot in the Long Walk Hurdle just before Christmas and Elliott said: “I honestly think he’s got a big each-way chance.

“I think he’ll love the track and a fast gallop will suit him. If you watch him in Ascot the last day, he’ll have learned a lot as it was his first run in a Grade One and the best bit of it was from the last to the line.

“To win the Stayers’ Hurdle, there’s a lot of running from the second-last to the line and if he got rolling, he wouldn’t be out of it.”

Home By The Lee was third behind Teahupoo at both Cheltenham and Punchestown last season and after two wins over the winter, Joseph O’Brien said: “He has looked as good as ever this year and I think his run the last day is right up there with some of his career-best efforts.

“We’re excited to go back. He’s been a fantastic servant to his owners and he’s not finished yet.”

Nicky Henderson’s Lucky Place has won both his starts this season, including getting the better of Gowel Road in the Relkeel Hurdle last time out.

Henderson said: “He’s been very good over two-mile-five at both Ascot and Cheltenham and he’s just improving. He finished fourth in the Coral Cup last year as a novice and he was about the only horse of mine that even ran a race at Cheltenham last year. I’m hopeful, but it is going to be tough.”

Gowel Road will look to follow up on his win in the Cleeve Hurdle and assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies said: “He looks in good form and he’s Mr Consistency around Cheltenham.

“It seems silly to rule him out, but whether he has the class to win at his age and having been beaten in handicaps, we will see. If he could place, it would be fantastic – and anything better, then brilliant.”

Bob Olinger is twice a Festival winner and will as ever be partnered by Rachael Blackmore for Henry de Bromhead, with the 10-year-old looking to break a sequence of four runner-up finishes.

De Bromhead said: “Bob Olinger ran really well at Christmas and was just beaten by a better horse on the day (Home By The Lee). I thought we’d beat him after Navan and I was disappointed, but that’s it.

“He’s got a great record around Cheltenham and has been aimed towards the spring, so he should be really fresh and well.”