GORDON ELLIOTT got his first win of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival as Teahupoo took the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.
The 5/4 favourite held off the staunch challenge of Flooring Porter to win the joint-feature on Thursday.
It was the Meath trainer’s first win of the week from 23 runners and eight placings thus far, while it was his 38th win outright.
Speaking to ITV afterwards, jockey Jack Kennedy said: “He was [fabulous]. He’s an amazing horse that makes my job very easy.
“You can put him anywhere you want in a race. He jumps great and everything so he is a pleasure to ride.
“I wasn’t too frustrated because the horses have been running well but it started to get a little bit annoying yesterday alright.
“Brilliant to get off the mark.”
It represented a return to form for Irish trainers, whose success from the first two days lessened on Thursday.
Ireland dominated on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Willie Mullins winning six on the way to scooping his 100th career win at the Festival.
Almost 30 years after his first win in 1995, the 67-year-old watched on as none other than his own son Patrick rode Jasmin De Vaux to victory in the Champion Bumper.
He seemed well placed to achieve it in the Queen Mother Champion Chase with El Fabiolo and Paul Townend.
However, the prestigious seven-year-old clipped the fifth fence and was pulled up, allowing Rachael Blackmore and Captain Guinness to romp home to victory.
Willie did not have to wait very long before getting the 100th with Jasmin De Vaux in the Bumper.
There was less success for the Irish on Thursday, something which was foreshadowed by news that John ‘Shark’ Hanlon withdrew Hewick from Friday’s Gold Cup.
Instead, the day belonged – in part – to Sir Alex Ferguson.
The former Manchester United manager – accustomed to hoovering up silverware in the world of football– got his first two Cheltenham winners EVER.
25/1 shot Monmiral handed Fergie his first as the biggest outsider to win at the festival so far this week.
Then, just minutes later, the Premier League icon doubled his tally for the day as 17/2 Protektorat scooped the Ryanair Chase.