Jack Kennedy appeared to secure his place as potential champion jockey with his win on Teahupoo at the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle in Punchestown on Thursday evening. This victory marked Teahupoo, trained by Gordon Elliott, as the first horse in a quarter of a century to achieve the vaunted Cheltenham-Punchestown Stayers double, arguably strengthening Kennedy’s bid for top honours against contender Paul Townend when the season concludes on Saturday.
With Kennedy serving a suspension on the final day of the season, Townend should enjoy some competitive racing with horses trained by Willie Mullins in the remaining 48 hours. Despite this, Kennedy’s lead of six victories (123-117) remains a daunting hurdle to overcome. Although several firms peg Kennedy as the likely winner, Mullins’s resources, as proven on Thursday, shouldn’t be discounted.
The prospect of Teahupoo becoming the first horse in 25 years to win both Cheltenham-Punchestown Stayers has increased. Gaelic Warrior’s defeat by stable mate Il Etait Temps in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase might prove crucial in determining the new champion jockey, but it also enabled Mullins to set another record. This victory was the 35th Grade One success of the season for the Anglo-Irish champion trainer – surpassing his previous record set in 2016.
Mullins’s powerful stable will be represented in the remaining four top-level races this week – with three hot favourites and six out of the ten runners in Saturday’s champion four-year-old hurdle. His unwavering dominance at the top-tier events in Ireland and Britain has been seen as statistical evidence of his tight grip on the sport despite criticisms of programme saturation.
Mullins remains humble about his success, attributing his achievements to his team in County Carlow. However, his unmatched performance across equestrian sports is just one victory short of matching Dermot Weld’s Irish record of 4,377 victories.
This season, Il Etait Temps won three out of the 35 Grade Ones, surprisingly surpassing Gaelic Warrior who had effortlessly triumphed over him in both Cheltenham and Limerick during the festive period.
Mullins suggested that the condition of the field might not have suited Gaelic Warrior, and it might have been too dry for him, as he tends to perform better during the winter months. Reflecting on Gaelic Warrior’s previous year’s victory, Paul Townend felt he didn’t perform as efficiently, even though he emerged victorious.
Mullins stated that the Gaelic Warrior’s jumps weren’t as impressive as usual, given his reputation for elaborate jumping. Yet, Il Etait Temps ensured that Mullins’ presence was felt on the third day, being the only victor, consequently adding a fifth win to his weekly record – a rather modest achievement considering his highest ever is 19.
His long-standing competition, Gordon Elliott, trails him by only one victory this week, as Tehaupoo was part of a 1,009-1 treble for the Meath trainer. Moreover, Maxxum won 28-1 in a handicap hurdle and Wingmen clinched the bumper at 18-1.
However, it was a victory with a tinge of sadness for Elliott due to the severe injury suffered by Teahupo’s yard mate, Sire Du Berlais, during the key race.
Last year’s Stayers victor at Cheltenham, 12-year-old JP McManus, pulled up injured before the third last flight while being ridden along by Mark Walsh, from the rear of the field. This was an unfortunate conclusion for the veteran performer in his 34th career start that included a hat-trick of wins at the Cheltenham festival among a total of seven wins.
Elliott expressed that he and his team at Cullentra are heartbroken about the whole incident.”It takes the shine off the entire week, to be honest”, Elliott added, expressing how important the horse was at their yard.
Despite Kennedy facing challenges both on and off the track, the current three whip bans totalling 30 days, will grant him ample time to recover.
Quizzed about his physical condition following multiple falls after the triumphant ride on Teahupoo, the jockey sought to downplay concerns. “I’ve had better days, truth be told. However, victories like these keep you going,” he stated.
He continued: “It’s certainly crucial. Regardless of the championship or any accolades, I’m simply thrilled for the horse who has been a steady companion in my career. He’s truly proving his dominance in the staying division.”
The horse is not just impactful on the racecourse, but according to the jockey, also a delight to ride as it makes things quite easy. The journey directly from Fairyhouse to Cheltenham and returning again seems to have agreed with him. “He’s showing improvement with each outing and I hope it continues like that,” he commented.
Interest around Teahupoo for next year’s Cheltenham Stayers title is already high with odds of 5-2 in favour, for owner Brian Acheson’s Robcour enterprise.
Mr Acheson expressed his previous concerns about the horse’s performance due to his lack of engagement with the track last year.
“Our last outing was a little concerning, as Robbie Power rode him in the Champion Hurdle and we finished last. I had fears about the horse’s memory of the experience. They’re sensitive animals with good memories,” Acheson confessed.
The competition between Jack and Paul Townend remains important, he commented further.
In other racing news, an English triumph came with the horses’ novice hurdle, where Sam Twiston-Davies guided Casa No Mento to victory for his father, Nigel.
Earlier, English jockey Nico De Boinville clinched the first contest aboard Jessica Harrington’s Pigeon House, but later received a two-day ban for reckless riding on Chantry House in the Maxxum’s spectacle.
In another remarkable feat, the 14-year-old Singing Banjo nabbed his second victory in the La Touche over the banks course under trainer-jockey Barry Walsh. This event marked Walsh’s first triumph since receiving his training licence.
The festival saw an official footfall of 18,289 people on Thursday, which marked an increase of three per cent from the turnout of 17,783 in the corresponding event in 2023.