Gordon Elliott doesn’t do ambiguity. Asked about his Stayers’ Hurdle team during the Sporting Life stable tour this week, the Cullentra handler was blunt: “Teahupoo probably sets the standard for me. Honesty Policy is the young one coming behind him, but I wouldn’t swap him.”
That’s a significant statement when you consider Honesty Policy won a Grade 1 at Aintree last spring and has been the subject of plenty of ante-post interest. But Elliott is right to back his older warrior — and the numbers make the case emphatically.
The Form That Speaks for Itself
Teahupoo’s record in staying hurdles reads like fiction. His last ten starts have all been at Grade 1 level, and the recent run is remarkable: wins in the Punchestown Champion Stayers’ Hurdle (May 2025), the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse (November 2025), and the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown (December 2025). Three Grade 1 wins on the bounce, each time at a different track and distance.
The horse has finished in the first two in nine of his last ten starts. The only blip was Aintree last April, where he failed to finish — though the 5,500-yard trip around those sharp bends has never suited his grinding style.
At Cheltenham specifically, his record is fascinating. He won the 2024 Stayers’ Hurdle at 5/4, beating a 12-runner field on soft ground. Last March, he was runner-up, beaten just 1¾ lengths at 7/4 on good to soft. Two runs, two places, at the track that suits him best — a stiff, undulating three miles where stamina trumps speed.
Why Honesty Policy Isn’t There Yet
Honesty Policy has raw talent. The Aintree Grade 1 win was impressive, and finishing second at the Punchestown Festival showed he belongs at the top level. But look closer and questions appear.
His most recent start — third in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December — was a backwards step. He’s only had six starts over hurdles in total, and just one of those has been at three miles or further. The Stayers’ Hurdle at 5,280 yards (three miles) will be the biggest stamina test of his career so far.
Compare that to Teahupoo, who has won at distances ranging from 4,400 to 5,280 yards and has proven himself on yielding, soft, and good to soft ground. Experience matters at the Festival, and Teahupoo has it in spades.
Elliott’s Cheltenham Challenge
Elliott’s broader Cheltenham record is worth noting in context. Across all meetings since 2020, his runners have a 7.7% strike rate from 364 starts — 28 winners. That’s below Mullins (12.2% from 434 runners) and Henderson (13.1% from 337 runners), but his volume tells you how seriously he targets the meeting.
What’s encouraging for Elliott backers is his current form. Over the past 90 days, his yard has operated at a 17.2% strike rate from 522 runners — 90 winners. That’s a powerful stable firing on all cylinders heading into March.
The Stayers’ Often Gets Overlooked
Elliott made another sharp observation: “The Stayers’ Hurdle horses probably never really get the credit they deserve.” He’s right. It’s the Thursday feature that gets overshadowed by the Gold Cup the next day, and staying hurdlers rarely capture the imagination like Champion Hurdle or Champion Chase types.
But Teahupoo is building a serious legacy in this division. A second Stayers’ Hurdle would put him alongside Inglis Drever and Big Buck’s as a dual winner of the race. At eight years old, he’s in his prime and has looked better than ever this season.
The Cheltenham Festival is less than four weeks away. On the evidence, Elliott’s instinct is spot on — Teahupoo remains the one they all have to beat.