Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle
Grade 1, Punchestown 18:00 €300,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1
Tweet Thursday 1st May 2025

1 Teahupoo 5/4F
2 Asterion Forlonge 18/1
3 Jetara 6/1
11 ran Distances: 4¼l, 2½l, ¾l
Time: 5m 55.90s (slow by 27.40s)

He's done it again!

Teahupoo, finely ridden by Sam Ewing, brings up the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle double for Gordon Elliott and Robcour 👊 pic.twitter.com/ZYrshm8jyI

— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) May 1, 2025

Teahupoo silenced the doubters and steadied the ship with a decisive defence of his crown on day three of the Punchestown Festival—a win that spoke of class, grit, and impeccable timing.

Gordon Elliott’s eight-year-old arrived in County Kildare with something to prove, having been turned over in both the Hatton’s Grace and, more tellingly, when second in his bid for back-to-back Cheltenham Stayers’ Hurdles. But there was no sign of fragility here.

Sent off the 5-4 market leader under Sam Ewing, Teahupoo travelled with a poise befitting a horse of his stature, biding his time in midfield as the three-mile contest unfolded. It wasn’t until the turn for home that the switch flicked—and when it did, the response was immediate and authoritative. He powered clear, asserting with every stride to put daylight—four and a quarter lengths of it—between himself and Asterion Forlonge at the line.

Relief, as much as elation, poured from Elliott in the aftermath.
“This horse has got me out of trouble a few times and he’s done it again,” he admitted. “He’s a star.”

The Meath trainer didn’t hide the nerves that accompanied him turning in.

“I was panicking, no question. If we’d had a few more in the bag already, I’d have been standing taller, but I’ll take that.”

There was praise too for Ewing, whose no-fuss approach brought out the best in his partner.

“He’s so laid-back at home you start wondering if he’s a bit heavy or too relaxed. But Sam was spot-on—kept it simple and delivered. I’m lucky with the riders, the staff, and the owners behind me.”

And with a wry smile, Elliott closed on a hopeful note: “I was dreaming last night—Teahupoo winning today and Meath lifting the Leinster. After the season we’ve had, that would do nicely.”

Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle
€300,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Yielding

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Teahupoo 8 11-10 Gordon Elliott Sam Ewing 5/4F
2 4¼ Asterion Forlonge 11 11-10 W P Mullins Paul Townend 18/1
3 2½ Jetara 7 11-3 Mrs John Harrington James Bowen 6/1
4 ¾ Winter Fog 11 11-10 W P Mullins Brian Hayes 12/1
5 4¾ Colonel Mustard 10 11-10 Mrs Lorna Fowler Keith Donoghue 22/1
6 ¾ Home By The Lee 10 11-10 Joseph O'Brien J J Slevin 9/1
7 1¾ Crambo 8 11-10 Fergal O'Brien Jonathan Burke 16/1
8 21 Franciscan Rock 8 11-10 M F Morris Gavin Brouder 33/1
9 2¾ Hiddenvalley Lake 8 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe 7/1
10 4½ Rocky's Diamond 5 11-10 Declan Queally Shane Fitzgerald 8/1
PU Meet And Greet 9 11-10 Oliver McKiernan Phillip Enright 66/1

Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP

2024 Teahupoo 7 11-10 Robcour Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy 5/6F
2023 Klassical Dream 9 11-10 Mrs Joanne Coleman W P Mullins Paul Townend 3/1J
2022 Klassical Dream 8 11-10 Mrs Joanne Coleman W P Mullins Paul Townend 11/10F
2021 Klassical Dream 7 11-12 Mrs Joanne Coleman W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins 5/1
2020 Abandoned - Covid-19
2019 Unowhatimeanharry 10-11-10 J P McManus H Fry M P Walsh 16/1
2018 Faugheen 10-11-10 Mrs S Ricci Willie Mullins DJ Mullins 11/2
2017 Unowhatimeanharry 9-11-10 J P McManus H Fry N D Fehily 4/1
2016 One Track Mind 6-11-10 Andy Weller W Greatrex Gavin Sheehan 10/1
2015 Jezki 7-11-10 J P McManus Jessica Harrington Mark Walsh 5/2
2014 Jetson 9-11-10 Gerard & Moira McGrath Jessica Harrington Davy Russell 20/1
2013 Quevega 9-11-03 Hammer & Trowel Synd. Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 6/4 Fav
2012 Quevega 8-11-03 Hammer & Trowel Synd. Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 11/10 Fav
2011 Quevega 7-11-05 Hammer & Trowel Synd. Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 8/11 Fav
2010 Quevega 6-11-05 Hammer & Trowel Synd. Willie Mullins Paul Townend 5/2 Fav
2009 Fiveforthree 7-11-10 Olde Crowbars Syndicate Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 5/4 Fav
2008 Blazing Bailey 6-11-10 Three Line Whip Alan King GB Robert Thornton 100/30 Fav
2007 Refinement 8-11-07 Michael Tabor Jonjo O’Neill GB A P McCoy 16/1
2006 Asian Maze 7-11-07 Sheila Moore Tom Mullins Ruby Walsh 8/13 Fav
2005 Carlys Quest 11-11-12 Mrs L Neville Ferdy Murphy GB Keith Mercer 25/1
2004 Rhinestone Cowboy 8-11-12 Sue Magnier Jonjo O’Neill GB Mr J P Magnier 5/2
2003 Holy Orders 6-11-12 Alan McLuckie Willie Mullins Shay Barry 6/1
2002 Limestone Lad 10-11-12 James Bowe James Bowe Paul Carberry 4/6 Fav
*2001 Bannow Bay 6-11-12 Linda Shanahan Christy Roche Charlie Swan 11/8 Fav
2000 Rubhahunish 9-11-11 Lone Star Racing P’ship Nigel Twiston-Davies GB Carl Llewellyn 5/1
1999 Anzum 8-12-00 Old Foresters Partnership David Nicholson GB Richard Johnson 7/1
1998 Derrymoyle 9-12-00 Herb M Stanley Michael Cunningham A P McCoy 10/1
1997 Paddy’s Return 5-11-12 Paddy O’Donnell Ferdy Murphy GB Norman Williamson 100/30
1996 Derrymoyle 7-12-00 Herb M Stanley Michael Cunningham Mark Dwyer 100/30
1995 Derrymoyle 6-11-11 Herb M Stanley Michael Cunningham Mark Dwyer 8/1
1994 Ultra Flutter 7-10-06 Donal Higgins Michael Hourigan Kevin O’Brien 7/2
1993 Always In Trouble 6-10-02 Margaret O’Rourke Michael O’Brien Jason Titley 8/1
1992 Shuil Ar Aghaidh 6-10-01 Mrs P Kiely Paddy Kiely Charlie Swan 2/1 Fav
* Run at Fairyhouse