2.15 Gowran Park: Honeysuckle conqueror Teahupoo out to prove Stayers' Hurdle claims under Russell

Teahupoo is fast becoming the buzz horse in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle market and, with doubts surrounding the participation of Flooring Porter and Klassical Dream, the first horse to beat Honeysuckle is now just 7-1 with the sponsors to land the day three showpiece at the festival.

Teahupoo's defeat of Honeysuckle came last month when the superstar mare was trying to win the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse for a fourth time, but she was gunned down late by a perfectly timed Jack Kennedy challenge.

A new rating of 163 means Teahupoo, who will be ridden for the first time by Davy Russell, is the class act in this Grade 2, and if he stays he wins. It really does look as simple as that.

He certainly wasn't stopping at the end of his Hatton's Grace win over 2m3½f and there is potential for him to be even better over this 3m½f trip. This will tell us a lot about him and victory could see him become the new Stayers' Hurdle favourite.

Last year's Thyestes winner Longhouse Poet returns to the scene of his most famous triumph. Martin Brassil's nine-year-old tackles hurdles on this occasion, and arrives on the back of a confidence-boosting win at Limerick over Christmas.

Longhouse Poet is rated only 142, however, and that is 21lb shy of Teahupoo, from whom he gets only 9lb. He faces a tough task.

Beacon Edge is a Grade 1 winner over fences but has lost his way of late, while 2018 Supreme winner Summerville Boy has his second start for Henry de Bromhead. He would certainly have a say on some of his old form, but this looks Teahupoo's race for the taking with conditions very much in his favour.

What they say 

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Teahupoo
We've always thought he was a nice horse. Things didn't pan out for him last spring, but we thought he had the potential to run a big race in the Champion Hurdle. It didn't happen for him there but he bounced back to form in the Hatton's Grace under a great ride from Jack Kennedy. We've decided to step him up in trip and we know he handles soft ground so I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets on. He's done well since Fairyhouse and I've been very happy with him.

Noel Meade, trainer of Beacon Edge
We went back over hurdles with Beacon Edge as it seemed he wasn't enjoying chasing, but he didn't seem to like anything at Leopardstown last time. We've sweetened him up a little bit since and are hoping to get a reasonable run out of him. We're trying blinkers and they can hopefully add a bit of spice to his life.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Early Doors
We're going back over hurdles in the hope we can get his confidence back. I've been pleased with how he's been training of late.

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