Teahupoo lands crucial victory for Kennedy in Champion Jockey race
Victory in the feature was one of three on the day for Gordon Elliott at Punchestown
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Jack Kennedy is six clear of Paul Townend in the leading jockey standings following Teahupoo's Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle victory
Jack Kennedy hailed Teahupoo as ‘a pleasure to ride’ after completing a Cheltenham-Punchestown Stayers’ Hurdle double to boost his chances of a maiden Champion Jockey crown.
Kennedy was without a win at the 2024 Punchestown Festival going into the day three feature but the seven-year-old justified his odds-on favouritism in the Robcour colours to bank the jockey a 123rd winner of the season.
It was also a third Grade 1 success in as many outings in a lightly-raced campaign for Teahupoo, who backed up his Prestbury Park triumph with a dominant display.
Kennedy now sits six clear of Paul Townend, who was second on Asterion Forlonge, and the winning jockey said: “He’s a straightforward horse, I was able to go forward on him to get out of where Paul (Townend) had me.
“It was great. He’s a pleasure to ride and he makes things very easy for you.
“Going straight to Cheltenham from Fairyhouse and straight here has suited him.”
🗣️ "He's a great horse."@jackkennedy15 is now six clear in the Jump Jockeys' Championship following Teahupoo's impressive win in the @Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle pic.twitter.com/rVwU9DXo1Y
— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) May 2, 2024
On the race to be crowned Champion Jockey, Kennedy added: “Paul can do anything, he has plenty of rides left so we won’t get ahead of ourselves. But this is a help.”
Teahupoo’s trainer Gordon Elliott added: “It was a good performance, from the turn in to the line, he extended the whole way.
“The rain was very important, it was beautifully safe ground. He’s a great horse and we are lucky to have him.
“We’d imagine we’d keep him hurdling, he’s very strong in that division at the moment. It is great to get a winner, and it’s more important for Jack than anyone.”
Elliott went on to pay tribute to ‘horse of a lifetime’ Sire Du Berlais, who suffered a fatal injury in the race.
The 12-year-old won the Stayers’ Hurdle as a 33-1 shot in 2023 and followed up with a second Liverpool Hurdle victory at Aintree.
"He's been unbelievable for us and we're all gutted,” Elliott said.
“Our thoughts are with JP and the McManus family. It takes the gloss off the whole week. He always wore his heart on his sleeve and was great."
The day’s other Grade 1 went the way of Il Etait Temps, who upset stable companion Gaelic Warrior in a thrilling battle up the home straight in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase.
Il Etait Temps outpoints stable companion Gaelic Warrior to land the G1 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase 🏆 pic.twitter.com/9fAlGpnLI1
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) May 2, 2024
Danny Mullins was on board for the six-year-old grey’s third top flight success of a memorable season and a tilt at the Champion Chase could be on the agenda next year.
Mullins said: “"What a tough little horse. He keeps battling. I missed the third-last in a two-mile chase and that usually puts you away, and he came back on the bridle.
“Gaelic Warrior sets the standard, he’s been the best around this year, and thankfully we got the better of him. He could be one to look forward to next season.”
Punchestown favourite Singing Banjo provided one of the stories of the week so far by rolling back the years to win the Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase.
The 14-year-old outran favourite Coko Beach, who was third, and held off pressure from Three By Two towards the line to claim a memorable triumph for owner, trainer and jockey Barry Walsh.
“He loves Punchestown,” Walsh said. “The banks bring him alive.
"He's quick over the obstacles and just keeps galloping. He's lightly raced and hopefully there is another year in him.”
Nico de Boinville claimed a Festival victory in the opener, the Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle, as Pigeon House claimed a maiden win over hurdles for Jessica Harrington, before Pinkerton edged out Saint Roi by a shoulder in the Frontline Security Handicap Chase.
Maxxum is no stranger to a notable Handicap win and claimed another under Carl Millar in the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle and Wingmen completed an Elliott treble by leading from start to finish in the JP & M Doyle INH Flat Race.
In between those two races, there were joyous scenes for the travelling Twiston-Davies contingent as trainer Nigel and jockey Sam teamed up to land the Close Brothers Mares Novice Hurdle with Casa No Mento.