Teahupoo has late chance to stake Champion Hurdle claim

Meaningful opposition to Honeysuckle in the upcoming Champion Hurdle is thin on the ground but Saturday's Red Mills Trial at Gowran provides a late chance for Teahupoo to stake a claim.

Gordon Elliott’s five-year-old is something of a “dark horse” in the championship betting at a general 20-1.

The French bred has been beaten just once in five starts in Ireland and meets his old rival Quilixios for a third time in a row at Gowran.

Having disposed of Honeysuckle’s stable companion to the tune of a dozen lengths at Naas in November, it was much closer in Limerick over Christmas.

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Teahupoo looked in trouble on the turn-in when Quilixios quickened up but ultimately rallied to get the verdict by half a length.

Quilixios might have been a shade unlucky on that occasion and the De Bromhead team was hardly firing on all cylinders during Christmas.

Last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner has also done little to shake the faith of Honeysuckle fans that a second Champion Hurdle is all but waiting to be picked up.

If there is a “springer” in the championship picture though it could be a progressive young horse in the mould of a Teahupoo who will relish testing ground conditions this weekend.

Saturday’s Gowran card also sees the eternal bridesmaid, Melon, get a seemingly perfect opportunity to finally get his head in front.

Four times a Cheltenham festival runner-up – including in back-to-back Champion Hurdles – the high-class but hugely frustrating 10-year-old hasn’t won a race in almost 800 days.

Standout

The Grade Two Red Mills Chase represents a teaser for punters in whether or not to lump on a horse that rarely wins but is still a standout in overall form.

Ordinarily Melon is a “shorty” to take on. On this occasion it could prove a foolish policy.

In other news, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has defended the decision to postpone Friday’s scheduled Dundalk fixture to Monday due to Storm Eunice.

The postponement was announced on Thursday evening. But with storm warnings expiring on Friday morning, and the Dundalk area not as badly affected as other parts of the country, the IHRB rejected suggestions that the early call was premature.

“Absolutely no way: the decision was taken in the interests of the safety of the participants and patrons that might be attending.

“There were detailed conversations held with Met Éireann yesterday and it wasn’t necessarily just about what the weather might be like in Dundalk.

“It was about what the weather would be like around the country and the risk that would be involved in travelling to Dundalk, especially for those who travel with horses.

"It was a decision Brendan Sheridan (clerk of the course) made with the full support of Dundalk racecourse following consultation with Met Éireann.

"They were very definite in their forecasts. OK the weather warnings may have died down as the day went on but the strong gusts , if they lingered around race-time, would have made it unracable for that reason," IHRB spokesman Niall Cronin said.