Teahupoo has won the Stayers’ Hurdle on the third day of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival in exciting fashion, giving trainer Gordon Elliott a colossal victory.
Noble Yeats and Asterion Forlonge took the lead after the first two hurdles, before Flooring Porter burst ahead on four, leaving the rest of the pack behind towards the front of the field.
And as the final two hurdles came into view, it was Porter who stayed well clear of the pack before a late scuffle for first position saw Teahupoo stride in front for the podium.
Clearly a year older and wiser, this meant the horse bettered his third place of last year, handing jockey Jack Kennedy a first win of this year’s Festival, one he’s very proud of.
“He’s an amazing horse and it makes my job very easy,” Kennedy said.
“He’s a pleasure to ride.
“I wasn’t getting too frustrated about not getting winners but it’s good to get off the mark.”
The victory also gave Gordon Elliott his first win of the four-day event with his 23rd runner having had eight placements.
