Lovely start from Teahupoo in Ireland after dramatic conclusion

Robbie Power rode his first winner since recently returning to home soil aboard Teahupoo in the ITM Virtual Stallion Trail Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Teahupoo is 14/1 from 25/1 for the Triumph Hurdle with Betfair and Paddy Power after this success, adding to Auteuil gains from October on his only previous start. Last flight faller Youmdor meanwhile remains unchanged at 14/1 with the same firm for that Cheltenham March contest.

Odds on favourite on this occasion Youmdor was on terms and travelling more smoothly when coming down. The suspicion was that Teahupoo would have at least made him work for victory though.

It was great to see Youmdor and Paul Townend up quickly after the spill and the Robcour-owned and Gordon Elliott-trained Teahupoo (4/1) was left to come home fifteen lengths to the good from Druid’s Altar.

“He's a nice horse. Obviously we had a lot of luck on our side there with Willie's horse going at the last,” said Elliott.

“I said to Robert 'you were definitely beat' but he said “I'm not so sure because my horse galloped from the last to the line'.

“He said he could see about three strides away from the last that Townend's horse was just started being squeezed along. I thought Willie's horse would have won and we had luck on our side.

“He's probably more of a stayer next year than a two-miler. I loved the way he put his head out and galloped from the last to the line.”

(GC & EM)