Cheltenham Festival: Fresh Teahupoo poised to land Stayers' Hurdle for Gordon Elliott

Teahupoo will look to strike when fresh in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle for Gordon Elliott at the Cheltenham Festival.

The seven-year-old was beaten just three-quarters of a length in the same race last year and returned to action this season in good form to take the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle ahead of Impaire Et Passe at Fairyhouse in early December.

He has not run since then and is expected to benefit from that as he is proven to go well after a brief break.

"We’re looking forward to Teahupoo in the Stayers’ and he seems in really good form," said Robbie Power, racing manager to owner Robcour.

"It was a very good performance in the Hatton’s Grace and we’ve changed things up this year coming straight here.

"The big thing for him is he’s a better horse when he’s fresh and all his runs after a 50-odd day break he has won. We think that is the key to him.

"He didn’t get the rub of the green in the race last year and hopefully if things go well this year he will take plenty of beating. He deserves to win a Stayers’ and we’re giving him every chance."

Elliott also runs reigning champion Sire Du Berlais, who followed up last year’s victory with success in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.

Flooring Porter landed the race in both 2021 and 2022 before finishing fourth last season, after which he switched to jumping fences in the first half of the current campaign.

He was not without success as a chaser but connections ultimately decided to return to the Stayers’ Hurdle in a bid for a third triumph and veto the alternative option of the National Hunt Chase.

"He’s in good shape and we’re looking forward to it. I hope the ground dries out a little bit, I hope it’s not too deep, so we’ll see what happens," said trainer Gavin Cromwell.

"He’s had a