Teahupoo triumphs in Champion Trial

Champion Hurdle candidate Teahupoo is riding the crest of a wave and bagged Gowran's Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle today, providing jockey Robbie Power with a first winner since returning from injury.

Teahupoo, named after a surfing village in Tahiti, had won five of six previous runs and with Power back on the board today, coasted to an 11 lengths win over 155-rated Darasso

Teahupoo was also extending to three, his career defeats of Triumph Hurdle winner and former stablemate Quilixios which disappointed in finishing 22 lengths third.

It was Power's first success since October 13, having fractured his hand and damaged tendons in an arm at Tramore the following day, and today reported “it’s been a long road back but he’s the sort of horse that you want to come back for.

“I won on him twice as a juvenile and when Jack (Kennedy) won on him this season he said he was a lot stronger.”

Paddy Power cut Teahupoo to joint third-favourite at 8/1 (from 20s) for the Champion Hurdle, in a market headed by 4/9 favourite Honeysuckle, with winning trainer Gordon Elliott adding “I thought he did it well. It was a good performance.

“Robbie said he hated the ground but he picked up on a bit better ground in the straight. He probably got there plenty soon but he had to go the way the race worked out.

“We said we’d come here today and see exactly where we were. Thankfully it’s worked out and we can think about the Champion Hurdle now. We can dream for another few weeks!

“He’s a very deceiving horse as he doesn’t do much at home. He’s very laidback but I’d say he’s not a bad horse.”

Quotes from Alan Magee