TEAHUPOO has been the gift that keeps on giving for Gordon Elliott, Robcour and Jack Kennedy, and the first time he was unwrapped for the festive period at Leopardstown yielded one of his most impressive performances ever in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle.

Only a nose separated the ultra-consistent stayer and his great Hatton’s Grace Hurdle rival Ballyburn when they clashed at Fairyhouse last month. With the Willie Mullins-trained chaser-turned-hurdler finishing out strongly over two and a half miles then, layers sent Ballyburn off as 13/8 favourite to turn the tables on Teahupoo (5/2) at this longer trip. However, the red-hot Elliott team were in no mood to follow that script.