Jack Kennedy masterclass as Teahupoo ends Champion Hurdle pretender Impaire Et Passe's unbeaten record

Jack Kennedy's extraordinary gift has long been clear but the weighing room's most revered icons tend to possess a fiendish ability to dictate the terms of engagement and his Hatton's Grace Hurdle-winning ride on Teahupoo provided further evidence of his subtle genius. 

A year ago at Fairyhouse, Kennedy masterminded Honeysuckle's first defeat when he brought Teahupoo with a late surge to sucker-punch the dual Champion Hurdle heroine. If it's one thing knocking an ageing title-holder with few secrets off their perch, plotting the downfall of a precocious rising star whose vulnerabilities are not yet known is possibly even more of a conundrum. 

That's often where instinct and improvisation come to the fore. To that end, Kennedy's turn in similarly inflicting a first defeat on Impaire Et Passe aboard Teahupoo in the 2023 edition of the Bar One Racing-sponsored Grade 1 was deftly majestic.

First of all, despite the pace being slower than ideal for a proven stayer, Kennedy dropped his Gordon Elliott-trained mount out so he could assess what Paul Townend was up to on the 4-5 market leader. He soon ascertained that Impaire Et Passe was racing in Townend's hands, so after the second flight he advanced Teahupoo on to the Ballymore winner's girth. 

Suddenly the champion jockey's job became a lot harder as Impaire Et Passe fought for his head. In contrast, Teahupoo was lobbing along calmly, and Kennedy never gave Townend a moment's peace thereafter. 

When Teahupoo's Cullentra stablemate Zanahiyr cried enough after setting that modest gallop, Kennedy doubled down on the girth of Impaire Et Passe, who in effect pulled his way to the front three out. The saying goes that the very best riders can ride more than one horse in a race, and Kennedy forced Townend's hand at every stage here.

In a contest that should not have been run to suit Teahupoo, he still manipulated matters in his favour. The upshot, on a weekend that might have been expected to throw up a new challenger to Constitution Hill, served only to see the reigning champion's grip on the title strengthen in his absence.

"Jack gave him a wonderful ride," said Elliott. "He was very clever on him, squeezing him along, and he said he was going to have one go at Impaire Et Passe." 

Last year, Teahupoo bolted up in the Galmoy Hurdle before finishing a frustrating third in the Stayers' Hurdle. This time, his owner Brian Acheson, who is enjoying a fine time with the likes of Gerri Colombe, Gentlemansgame, Bob Olinger and Irish Point, is favouring a direct route to the Cotswolds. 

"The plan is to go straight for the Stayers' Hurdle now," Elliott said. "We might have knocked the edge off him in Gowran last year and, when you look at the competition in England, it looks like we might have the stronger hand."

Kennedy certainly enjoyed this. He was animated crossing the line, knowing full well he had seized another considerable scalp.

Teahupoo (right) and Jack Kennedy race alongside Impaire Et Passe in the closing stages of the Hatton's Grace HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

"Paul looked to be on it a bit and I was pushing him along a bit trying to make him do as much as he could," he admitted. "I made sure I pressed him on early turning into the straight because my lad stays." 

A fourth win in the race following his two on Apple's Jade in 2017 and 2018, means Kennedy has now won more Hatton's Graces than any other rider. It's no wonder he has a soft spot for the six-year-old Teahupoo, who returned at odds of 85-40.

"I enjoy riding this lad," he said. "He gave me a great day here last year and I got a great thrill out of this."

Teahupoo is now a best-priced 4-1 (from 8) to atone for last season's reversal at Cheltenham. Impaire Et Passe, on the other hand, is out to 7-1 (from 4) to account for Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle.

Given the way he momentarily looked to be about to swat away Teahupoo when they touched down two out, it was disappointing he was unable to finish the job and Willie Mullins was not inclined to hide his dejection. 

Asked if the slow early fractions might have counted against him, he said: "It shouldn't have. If we think we are going to be competitive in a Champion Hurdle it should have played into our hands. However, there was a lot of pace from the six-marker home, and he was probably in front a long way out. And the winner is a good horse. We came here today hoping for the best but it didn't work out. We live to fight another day." 

Mullins wasn't rushing to any judgements about what happens next. He suggested Impaire Et Passe could yet run at Christmas, possibly even against State Man at Leopardstown. 

"We'll see," he said. "I'm not going to change my course anyhow, I think we're going to stay going the way we're going."

A year after heralding a major change in the Champion Hurdle landscape, then, this time the Hatton's Grace felt like it had much the opposite impact. Constitution Hill won't be easily moved.

Unibet Champion Hurdle (3.30 Cheltenham, March 12)

Coral: 2-5 Constitution Hill, 6 State Man, 7 Impaire Et Passe, 20 Vauban, 25 Marine Nationale, 33 bar.

Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle (3.30 Cheltenham, March 13)

Betfair Sportsbook: 4 Teahupoo, 9-2 Theleme, 14 Irish Point, 16 Impaire Et Passe, 20 Sir Gerhard, Sire Du Berlais, West Balboa, 25 bar.

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