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Teahupoo wins Stayers' Hurdle as Ferguson enjoys Cheltenham double / Photo: © AFP
Teahupoo wins Stayers' Hurdle as Ferguson enjoys Cheltenham double
Hot favourite Teahupoo eased to victory in the feature Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday, as iconic former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson enjoyed a double.
Teahupoo, sent off at 5/4, loomed up alongside long-time leader Flooring Porter heading to the final hurdle of the three-mile race, before pulling away to win under Jack Kennedy.
There was relief for Irish trainer Gordon Elliott, as he finally secured his first win of the week after several near-misses.
"It's great to get a winner. We have hit the crossbar a few times this week but to win this is unbelievable," Elliott said.
"I am delighted for the whole team.
"It has been a long couple of days but the horses have been running well. This is a great place to have a winner."
Flooring Porter had to settle for second place, with Home By The Lee taking third.
Earlier, Ferguson claimed his first-ever Cheltenham success as a racehorse owner in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle, before winning again with Protektorat in the Grade One Ryanair Chase.
The 82-year-old, who enjoyed 26 trophy-laden years at Old Trafford, roared home 25/1 shot Kyntara for his maiden Festival win.
"I've waited a long time for this, but it is fantastic. The jockey was absolutely brilliant on him," said Ferguson.
"What I was thinking at the tapes was, 'What the hell is he doing at the back', but he crept forward and judged it perfectly...
"It has been probably 20 years that I've wanted to have a winner here as when I first started (in racing) I just had flat horses and no National Hunt ones."
A golden day for the Scot continued less than an hour later as Protektorat powered away from reigning champion and favourite Envoi Allen in the next race.
The 17/2 shot gave rider Harry Skelton and his brother, trainer Dan Skelton, their fourth win of the week after Grey Dawning's earlier victory in the Turners Novices' Chase.
The football theme of the day continued as Ferguson's old adversary Harry Redknapp enjoyed his first Cheltenham victory as an owner with Shakem Up'arry in the Plate Handicap Chase.
"Oh my God, get in there! How good was that? He jumped for fun. What a performance," former Tottenham boss Redknapp said.
The Festival concludes on Friday, with defending champion Galopin Des Champs the odds-on favourite for the showpiece Gold Cup.
S. Sokolow--BTZ
