Teahupoo makes a splash in the Winning Fair

Teahupoo maintained an unbeaten record with a third jumps win at Fairyhouse today, landing the opening Grade 3 Norman Colfer Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle for trainer Gordon Elliott, Brian Acheson's Robcour and jockey Robbie Power.

The French bred son of Masked Marvel was a debut winner at Auteuil last October and having then won over today's two-miles distance at the same Co Meath venue in January, followed up with a comfortable seven lengths beating of runner-up Tax For Max today.

Winning trainer Elliott later stated “I thought it was a good performance again; I liked the way when he jumped the second last and idled a bit and pricked his ear. Robert said when he gave him a squeeze at the back of it he was gone again.

“He's improving the whole time. Obviously he's in everything at Cheltenham, the Fred Winter, the Supreme and the Triumph.

“I'll have a chat with Brian (Acheson, owner) as we have Cheltenham or we could come back here for the Grade 2 at Easter which is only two weeks later.

“It wouldn't be the biggest shock in the world if he stayed at home and came back here. There is a lot of water to go under the bridge over the next couple of weeks.

“I'd say he'll stay three miles, he's a real stayer, and he's probably the type of horse you need for a Triumph Hurdle because he stays. He's a nice horse.”

Teahupoo is a surfing village on the island of Tahiti while today's race is named in honour of 1963 Champion Hurdle victor Winning Fair who, topically, was ridden in Cheltenham by an amateur jockey, Alan Lillingston.

Quotes from Gary Carson