Ante post betting: Impaire Et Passe eased after Teahupoo triumphs

Impaire Et Passe has been eased to 7/1 (from 5/1) in Coral’s ante post betting for the Champion Hurdle after he was beaten by Teahupoo in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.

The Fairyhouse winner was himself trimmed to 4/1 (from 5/1) by Coral for the Stayers’ Hurdle after completing back-to-back wins in the race.

Gordon Elliott’s charge ended the long unbeaten run of Honeysuckle in the Grade One contest last year and this time it was Willie Mullins’ Impaire Et Passe who had his bubble burst.

The pair were neck and neck on the approach to the final flight but it was Teahupoo who kept finding for pressure on the run to the line, with Jack Kennedy’s mount registering a length success at odds of 85/40.

Teahupoo finished a close third in the Stayers’ Hurdle last term and a Cheltenham return in March is now top of Elliott’s agenda, with the trainer planning a direct route for Teahupoo this time.

“The horse has got a lot stronger,” said Elliott. “He’s only a young horse and didn’t do much wrong last year.

TEAHUPOO strikes AGAIN ✊

Reigning Hatton's Grace Hurdle champ Teahupoo outbattles rising star Impaire Et Passe in a cracking finish to the feature Grade 1 contest @Fairyhouse@gelliott_racing's horses are just flying!@jackkennedy15 | @BarOneRacing | @BrianAcheson pic.twitter.com/NNjtprho9a

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 3, 2023

“We are going to do things a bit different this year and the plan is to go straight for the Stayers’ Hurdle now. We might have knocked the edge off him in Gowran last year.”

Constitution Hill remains the favourite at 2/5 in the Stayers’ Hurdle betting ahead of State Man at 5/1.

Coral’s David Stevens said: “We may not see the Champion Hurdle favourite Constitution Hill until Boxing Day now but, in his absence, Impaire Et Passe was unable to cement his own claims for the hurdling crown and his stablemate State Man is now the closest market rival to the reigning champ.”

Farren Glory on track for Cheltenham

Other winners at Fairyhouse on Sunday included Farren Glory, who has been introduced at 16/1 by Coral in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle ante post betting.

Elliott fielded three in the Grade One contest, with Jack Kennedy opting to ride 11/2 shot Farren Glory as An Tobar was sent off the 5/2 favourite for Henry de Bromhead.

Rachael Blackmore had the market leader to the fore throughout, disputing the lead with Horantzau D’airy before his early exertions told and he dropped away, leaving An Tobar in the driving seat.

However, King Of Kingsfield was travelling notably well for Elliott and jockey Jordan Gainford and he seized the initiative heading down to the final flight, with Farren Glory jumping the last a bit awkwardly in second.

Despite a slight check on his momentum, Farren Glory found plenty for Kennedy on the run to line, eventually pipping his stablemate by a length and a half, with a further length and a quarter back to An Tobar in third.

Elliott could now look at Grade One dates in Britain over the Christmas period, with Leopardstown’s festive feature not expected to suit quite as well.

“I’m not sure where he will go next,” said the trainer. “Leopardstown might not be the track for him on quick ground and I wouldn’t be shocked if we brought him to England for the Tolworth (now the Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree) or the Challow.”

Hansard cut for early Christmas cheer

Hansard defied a welter burden to win the Bet In Race With Coral Intermediate Handicap Hurdle at Newbury for Niall Houlihan and Gary Moore.

Saddled with top-weight due to some smart form in novices, he dwarfed many of his rivals in the race registered as the Gerry Feilden.

Beaten less than four lengths in a Grade One at Aintree by De Bromhead’s Inthepocket at the Grand National meeting, he had made a satisfactory return to action when second to Rubaud in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

With Jamie Moore sidelined with a serious injury, his father has put plenty of faith in Houlihan and he continues to repay him.

Houlihan saved every inch of ground on the inner but he looked booked for a place at best two out as Bad and Brentford Hope set a target.

Arguably Under Control was travelling the best at that stage but she was almost pulled up on crossing the line having faded tamely.

With Brentford Hope failing to pick up on ground quicker than ideal, Hansard dug deep and the 15/2 shot went on to win by three-quarters of a length.

Hansard is now 7/1 joint-second favourite in the ante post betting for the Betfair Exchange Trophy on December 23 at Ascot.

Moore said: “He’s in the valuable race at Ascot just before Christmas and after that it just depends what the handicapper does to him as we could be in trouble if we over-race him.

“He does all the right things that make you think he could be (a Pattern performer) but he has to improve again. He wouldn’t want to run tomorrow but he’s a hardy horse who takes his racing well.”

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