Teahupoo and Jack Kennedy (right) beat Impaire Et Passe © Photo Healy Racing
Teahupoo proved ultra tough once again in the Bar One Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse as he lowered the colours of Impaire Et Passe in the Grade 1 contest.
Gordon Elliott 's charge had claimed the scalp of Honeysuckle in the race 12 months ago and turned over another hotpot this afternoon in the two-and-a-half mile contest.
It all looked to be going to plan for the 4/5 favourite as he travelled strongly in the lead turning for home.
Teahupoo came to dispute at the second last and Jack Kennedy was the first to ask his mount for an effort.
The distress signals started to go out on Impaire Et Passe running down to the last and Teahupoo edged ahead on the run-in to score by a length.
It was a Grade 1 double on the day for Elliott and Kennedy following the earlier victory of Farren Glory
Elliott said:- “We knew he was in good nick but obviously Willie’s horse was going to be hard to beat over two and a half miles and we know our lad wants three.
“Jack gave him a wonderful ride and was very clever on him, squeezed him along and said he was going to have one go at him between the last two.
“The horse has got a lot stronger. He’s only a young horse and didn’t do much wrong last year.
“We are going to do things a bit different this year and the plan is to go straight for the Stayers Hurdle now.
“We might have knocked the edge off him in Gowran last year.”
Owner Brian Acheson added:- “The key to this horse, like Bob Olinger, is Robbie Power. He takes a lot of the horses during the summer and does a bit of dressage.
“Everything is for the welfare of the horses to get them physically in good condition and mechanically working well.
“Bob Olinger is not going for the Stayers as he doesn’t stay three miles but he might go to Aintree and take on Constitution Hill.”
The winning jockey told RTE:- “I think he's after improving from last year, he seems a stronger horse. That was very good there and I'm delighted with him.
“He's a pleasure to ride. Paul (Townend's) lad looked to be on it a bit and I was kind of pushing him along a bit trying to make him do as much as he could.
“This lad was very good, he was tough and did it well in the end.
“I thought halfway between the second last and the last I had got him under pressure.
“I was probably a little bit slower away from the last but this lad stays really strong. He picked up well and did it well.
“I enjoy riding this lad. Obviously he gave me a great day here last year as well so it's brilliant for him to back it up again this year.
“Hopefully it's onwards and upwards.”
Betfair made Teahupoo 4/1 from 6/1 for the Stayer's Hurdle while Impaire Et Passe is unchanged at 11/1.
Impaire Et Passe is now 8/1 from 11/2 for the Champion Hurdle while Constitution Hill is 2/5 from 1/2.
