Teahupoo is once more set to play a major part in Gordon's Elliott’s strong team at the Cheltenham Festival when he defends his Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle crown.
Despite being beaten in this year’s Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, a race which he won last season, Elliott arguably thinks he put up a better performance behind Lossiemouth than when he was successful.
As a result the trainer was content to not consider running him again before the big day and he was reacquainted with Jack Kennedy on the gallops at Cullentra House on Wednesday.
"Teahupoo is in great form, he worked Monday morning and I couldn’t be happier with him," said Elliott.
"He worked very well, Jack rode him this morning and he was very happy so I’m really looking forward to running him.
"He’s eight, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be as good as last year. I think his run at Fairyhouse this year was better than last year, as conditions didn’t suit him. We’re looking forward to running him. He’s not flashy, so you never really know at home, but he has the best form in the race."
A final decision on whether his star mare Brighterdaysahead will run in the Unibet Champion Hurdle will be made early next week.
Following a comeback success at Down Royal, Brighterdaysahead edged out reigning Champion Hurdle hero State Man in the Morgiana at Punchestown before blowing him and the rest away with a scintillating 30-length victory at Leopardstown over the Christmas period.
With connections sidestepping the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, Brighterdaysahead will return to Prestbury Park a fresh horse – but whether she will go for Champion Hurdle glory or take the easier option of the Mares’ Hurdle remains the burning question.
"I’m very happy with her, she’s in great form," Elliott said. "A Champion Hurdle, it’d be great to win it and we could be a long time trying to get a horse for it again, but if you look at the betting she’s very short for the Mares’ Hurdle.
"You don’t persuade Michael (O’Leary, owner), he does his own thing, and we’ll do the right thing for the horse.
"The decision will be made on Monday or Tuesday. I don’t think we’ve had as good a chance in a Champion Hurdle before. We’ve been second and third in Champion Hurdles and Jack says she’s different class."
Elliott has a big chance in the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Romeo Coolio (above), who takes on the formidable-looking Kopek Des Bordes for Willie Mullins.
"We’ll run Romeo Coolio in the Supreme, but Willie’s horse looked good the last day, he sets the standard. But our lad is in good form and we’re looking forward to him, he’s in good form," said Elliott.
"Our lad has been to Cheltenham, I’ll just worry about my own horse, but Willie’s horse was awesome.
"He won at Christmas and we decided then to miss the Dublin Festival, he’s a Kayf Tara, they take a bit of time between runs.
"At Fairyhouse I think he got beat because of how we rode him, he was ridden for speed but I think he just gallops."
Another for Elliott holding very strong claims is Wodhooh, among the favourites for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle and also holding an entry in the Coral Cup.
She had Betfair Hurdle winner Joyeuse behind her when winning at Cheltenham in December, while the third, Take No Chances, and fourth, Royale Margaux, have both won Pattern races since.
"I’d say it’s more than likely Wodhooh will run in the Martin Pipe, her form has worked out brilliant," said Elliott.
"That run at Cheltenham has worked out great and she’s been brilliant since. I’m very happy with her. It’s been the plan all year.
"It wasn’t ideal she’d had so long off, she missed nearly a year but it wasn’t by design. She’ll come forward from it and we’d said we’d come straight here. She is still unexposed and could still be well handicapped.
"Danny (Gilligan) will ride her. In Ireland when you lose your claim you can’t ride in conditional races, but in the UK if you start the season as one you can so it’s great."
A decision still needs to be made over which race The Wallpark runs in, with entries in the Stayers’ Hurdle and the Pertemps Final.
Elliott said: "I thought The Wallpark ran well at Ascot (fourth to Crambo in Long Walk Hurdle), it wouldn’t shock me if he was placed in the Stayers’, he’ll come home very fast. I just don’t know if he’ll run in the Pertemps with top-weight. Sire Du Berlais did it, but I don’t know if he has the class he had."
Elliott seems sure to have a strong hand in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – but whether he runs three or two is up in the air.
"We could run three in the Brown Advisory, Better Days Ahead, he won the Martin Pipe last year and is in great form. He was unlucky not to get up against Croke Park, another 50 yards he’d have won. When he made the running at Navan he didn’t do a stroke," said Elliott.
"Stellar Story, he’s got to jump better but he could be very dangerous over that trip, even at Navan he was a bit unlucky, he gave 3lb to the winner and we probably rode him negatively but they were the instructions I gave Danny to get him round. He’s got a big engine. Those two are dour stayers.
"Croke Park has the option of this or we could wait for Fairyhouse. I’m not convinced he’s an out-and-out three-miler. He might be better off using his jumping and his stride over shorter."
Only quick ground would see Elliott change tack with The Yellow Clay, as despite him being a shorter price for the Albert Bartlett he remains on course for the Turners over shorter.
"Everyone is saying The Yellow Clay should go for the Albert Bartlett as he’s favourite, but I don’t know if he’s as slow as people are making out," he said.
"If it got very quick then it could be something we might think about, but at the moment we’re thinking of going for the Turners. I think this is his trip. Again Willie’s looked very good (Final Demand), but we’ve a line of form through Wingmen and I’d say The Yellow Clay is a better horse than him."
