Day 3 of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival saw the British trainers bite back after the Irish had dominated days 1 and 2. But Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo ensured the biggest prize of the day still crossed the Irish Sea by taking the Stayers’ Hurdle and redeeming himself after his defeat last year.
Teahupoo had finished third in the 2023 running of the race, going off strongly fancied at 9/4 with betting sites. Punters were even more confident this time around and the 7-year-old son of St Leger winner Masked Marvel went off the hot favourite at 5/4.
In the race he was placed in mid division by jockey Jack Kennedy as Asterion Forlonge and then Flooring Porter cut out the running. Teahupoo came to challenge at the second last but Flooring Porter, twice a former winner of the event, did not go down without a fight and the pair battled to the last where Teahupoo finally got the better of his rival.
Trainer Elliott confessed to some in-race nerves before Kennedy hit the winning line. “I was a bit anxious at the top of the hill and he probably got there a bit soon but I had confidence in Jack. He’s world class. Never say never but at the moment he’s going to stick to hurdling. He could go to Aintree or Punchestown next and might even go to France. He has some nice options.”
In the day’s other feature the home team triumphed thanks to Dan Skelton’s Protektorat who was ridden by the trainer’s brother Harry. Protektorat, whose last win was over a year previously, settled better than he has been doing in his races and held of the challenge of the 10-year-old three time Festival winner Envoi Allen.
