Bar One Hatton's Grace Hurdle
Grade 1, Fairyhouse 14:36
€120,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
2m 4f, Class 1 
Sunday 30th November 2025

1 Teahupoo EvsF
2 Ballyburn 13/8
3 Maxxum 28/1
6 ran Distances: nse, 40l
Time: 5m 4.90s (slow by 27.90s)

Teahupoo shaded the verdict over a rattling late charge from Ballyburn in a pulsating renewal, handing Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy their fourth graded success of the afternoon at Fairyhouse.

Gordon Elliott’s seasoned performer had taken this Grade One in 2022 and 2023, and though Lossiemouth halted the hat-trick bid last year, he arrived this time with another opportunity to join the illustrious roll of Limestone Lad, Solerina, Apple’s Jade and Honeysuckle as a three-time winner under Jack Kennedy.

But for the even-money favourite it was anything but routine. He had to knuckle down to reel in his stablemate Casheldale Lad turning for home, and just as he looked to be shading it, Casheldale Lad came down at the final flight, leaving Teahupoo in front but far from home and hosed.

Because from the back came Ballyburn, Willie Mullins’ charge returning to hurdles after a frustrating end to his novice chase campaign. Paul Townend nursed him around before unleashing him late, and the response was immediate – powerful, relentless, and cutting into the deficit with every bound. The line, though, arrived just in time for Teahupoo, who held on by the narrowest of noses.

“Jordan (Gainford, riding Casheldale Lad) did a wonderful job in front, he got the fractions just right. Jack said he couldn’t have gone another gear faster,” said Elliott.

“When you take a horse out of their comfort zone early in those type of races it’s very hard and we knew we were rolling the dice coming back to two and a half miles, but it just looked like the perfect starting point for him.

“He’s not a two-and-a-half miler, he’s a three-mile horse – he’s slow and he’s not getting any younger, but he’s got the heart of a lion.

“He’s a warrior of a horse and we’re so lucky to have him.”

The bookmakers reacted in kind. Paddy Power trimmed Teahupoo to 5-2 from 100-30 for a second Stayers’ Hurdle, but it was Ballyburn who found himself installed as the new 2-1 favourite from 7-2.

Asked whether the winner would follow his familiar path of going straight from Fairyhouse to Cheltenham without another run, Elliott added: “Probably, but that’s not concrete. You mind a horse for a race all year and then get a stone bruise, anything can happen.

“We’re not saying he’s going to run again but we’re not ruling it out either. Leopardstown (at Christmas) would have to come up very soft for him to run there, we’ll see.”

Boylesports

Hatton's Grace Hurdle
€120,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 4f, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Yielding to Soft, Soft in places

POS. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Teahupoo 8 11-10 Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy EvsF
2 nse Ballyburn 7 11-10 W P Mullins Paul Townend 13/8
3 40 Maxxum 8 11-10 Gordon Elliott Danny Gilligan 28/1
FELL Casheldale Lad 5 11-10 Gordon Elliott Jordan Gainford 10/1
UR Mystical Power 6 11-10 W P Mullins Mark Walsh 11/1
UR Glen Kiln 6 11-10 David Harry Kelly Brian Hayes 28/1

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