Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)

THERE have been a host of memorable chapters in Bob Olinger’s career, but he saved possibly his best script for last at the Punchestown Festival - signing off at the age of 11 with a fairytale win in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle.

Brian Acheson revealed in the final minutes leading up to the day-three feature that this would be the triple Cheltenham Festival winner’s swansong, and there was clear confidence in the Henry de Bromhead camp that their veteran stalwart was set to go out in a blaze of glory.

In the same Robcour colours, Teahupoo was sent off the 5/4 favourite to bring up a hat-trick in the race, and, sparked up by the first-time blinkers, Gordon Elliott’s top stayer gave a bold showing for much of the journey. Darragh O’Keeffe, in red-hot form from a double earlier on the card, rode his old favourite with great patience before making a decisive move to get within shooting distance before turning in.

Yes, Teahupoo didn’t help his case with some sloppy jumping late on, but the popular 4/1 shot - out to go two places better than his admirable showing behind Home By The Lee at Cheltenham - took dead aim and did not miss.

After looking in command approaching the last, he had one final challenger to come from off the pace in a revitalised Jimmy Du Seuil (back hurdling following an in-and-out season over fences) and had enough in reserve to prevail by three quarters of a length. Teahupoo filled the frame a further three and a half lengths back in third.

It was a victory that meant the world to Henry de Bromhead and his team, soaking up the heartfelt reception offered up for a five-time Grade 1 winner who was once lost in the doldrums. Getting him back to Grade 1-winning form after that spell in the wilderness surely must go down as one of the Knockeen trainer’s greatest achievements.

“Brian rang me the other day to say this is what he was planning and I thought it was perfect. The fact Bob read the script as well… These are days you savour,” said de Bromhead.

“He’s just pure class. He’s an incredible horse and we’re so lucky to have been a part of his story. He gave Rachael [Blackmore] a great day in his Stayers’ Hurdle win [the rider’s final Cheltenham Festival success] and in the Ballymore the year of Covid. What a ride she gave him then. Then we lost him for a little bit but Ger Kelly [of Fethard Equine Hospital] found the issue, and he went back to Robbie Power’s. He came back from Robbie’s the same as he was before.

“Darragh was brilliant on him today. What a horse to have had. He’s given us so many incredible days. This is a really special day. Plenty of days they don’t, but you dream that they could end like that. To see him go out as he has is phenomenal.”

As well as the obvious significance for the jockey of a Grade 1 winner on a horse cherished by connections, O’Keeffe was making it a treble on the card - bringing him to within three winners of Jack Kennedy in his bid for a first jockeys’ championship.

“Days like this are unbelievable,” said an ecstatic O’Keeffe.

“What a horse this fella is and huge credit goes to everyone at home and the owners. Davy Roche said to me this morning ‘he wins today’ - and he knows Bob like the back of his hand. This is a special horse.

“At Cheltenham, the runners slightly got first run on me so once we left the back straight, I got a couple of good jumps and I put the target on Jack then. I thought [Teahupoo] might keep me going longer down to the last but this fella has been staying really well this year. It’s absolutely magical. I’m very grateful to be riding him.”