Stayers’ Hurdle odds: Teahupoo new favorite for Cheltenham Festival after Galmoy Hurdle frolic at Gowran Park

Teahupoo moved to ante-post favoritism for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after an easy victory in the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park.

Gordon Elliott’s charge finished last behind Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdles at Cheltenham and Punchestown last season but turned the tables by handing the superstar mare a first career defeat in Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse last month.

Passing three miles for the first time, Teahupoo had a 4/11 chance of giving weight and beating five rivals at year two level and could hardly have been more impressive.

Ridden by Davy Russell, enjoying his first rank success since coming out of retirement to replace injured Jack Kennedy, Teahupoo traveled like the class horse through the field before being asked to extend down the straight.

He quickly put any stamina doubts to bed as he propelled 15 lengths ahead of veteran Summerville Boy, seeing Paddy Power cut his Stayers’ Hurdle odds to 11/4 from 7/1.

Elliott said: “He was good and he’s a good horse. He’s going in the right direction and the plan is to go straight to Cheltenham for the Stayers’ Hurdle.

“It was two miles at Cheltenham last year and I would say that distance is key for him – over two miles the gun is on your head all the time. I know he was beaten well at Punchestown after that, but he wasn’t actually beaten until then.

“At the moment we have no concerns on the ground, although (Stayers Hurdle) is also an open race.

“Davy (Russell) said he freaked out and came in a little early because he was so laid back early but when he squeezed he jumped on the bridle. You’d like how he’s sped up since penultimate in line.”

Carefully selected gave further proof of Willie Mullins’ remarkable coaching skills with a thrilling victory in the Goffs Thyestes Chase.

Despite making six of his first 10 starts under the rules, the Well Chosen gelding overthrew trainer’s son Patrick as the overwhelming favorite for the 2020 National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and was subsequently sidelined for the better part of three years.

But after shaping up with some promise in his long-awaited return to the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown last month, the 11-year-old was 9/2 favorite to hand Mullins a ninth victory in the 100 feature. €000 on his local track. .

Ridden by Paul Townend, previously successful in the Thyestes aboard On His Own in 2014, Carefully Selected charted a wide course for much of the three mile and one stage journey.

After losing position with a homer to run, he stalked the leaders before the home turn and landed in front at the second home fence.

Dunboyne, one of nine runners for Mullins’ great rival Gordon Elliott, emerged as a major threat during the run-in and the pair slipped away almost as one – but the judge Carefully Selected upheld the winner by a short header.

Double winner of the Cheltenham Festival Mr Gerhard made a successful transition to the bigger hurdles in his late reappearance at Gowran Park.

Winner of the Champion Bumper in 2021 and the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle last season, the Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old’s seasonal comeback was delayed by injury before Christmas.

Facing just two rivals, Sir Gerhard was the 1/6 favorite to return to the pursuit of chartered accountant debutants Daly Farrell – and although he eventually got the job done with ease, his first start on fences since his days point to point was not without a weird scare.

Largy Debut cut much of the sound canter racing under Rachael Blackmore, with Paul Townend happy to take the lead aboard the market leader.

His fans would have had their hearts in their mouths when he made a mess of the fence in front of the stands with a circuit to go, but he improved in the jumping department from there and overpowered Largy Debut from the corner home.

Sir Gerhard brushed the second fence from the finish but was safe at the end and passed the post with 38 lengths in hand.

Paddy Power left the winner’s Arkle odds unchanged at 10/1, while he’s a 6/1 shot with Coral for the two-and-a-half-mile Turners Novice Pursuit and 10/1 for the even longer Novices of Brown Advisory. Hunt.