TEA' FOR TWO

Stayers' Hurdle double on the cards for Elliott eight-year-old

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TEAHUPOO (4.00) can retain his Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle crown on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival today.

Thursday is usually the trickiest day for punters but Gordon Elliott's eight-year-old looks a rock-solid bet in a race he was the impressive winner of 12 months ago.

He has been campaigned sparingly since, winning at the Punchestown Festival, before suffering a defeat to Lossiemouth in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in a race that turned into something of a sprint.

That was over 100 days ago but Elliott took the same route last year and Teahupoo's a horse that seemingly runs well when fresh. Drying ground would be a small concern but in a race that lacks real depth he should reward favourite backers with back-to-back successes in a race he was also a narrow runnerup in two years ago to stablemate Sire Du Berlais.