Teahupoo rallied strongly in the closing stages to get the better of Quilixios and justify odds-on favouritism in the featured Grade 2 BoyleSports Sporting Limerick Hurdle.

Jordan Gainford set a steady pace on the 8/15 favourite but was headed approaching the penultimate flight by Quilixios, who soon asserted to go a few lengths clear.

However, the Gordon Elliott-trained gelding found plenty for pressure on the run-in and got up in the closing stages to score by half-a-length. Slip Of The Tongue was a further five-and-a-half lengths away in third.

Teahupoo won a Grade 2 and a Grade 3 as a juvenile earlier this year, and has now emulated that feat this term having made a successful reappearance in the Grade 3 Fishery Lane Hurdle at Naas last month.

Gainford said, “He was a bit idle in front and we didn’t go mad. It actually suited me when I had something to attack at over the last two. He really put his neck out for me and tries.

“He winged the last two and is a smart horse to look forward to in the spring.”

Teahupoo was trimmed into 12/1 (from 16/1) for the Champion Hurdle with Betfair and Paddy Power.