Could Teahupoo turn the tables?

I EXPECT, like an awful lot of people, we have spent the last week decompressing and reflecting on the drama that unfolded last week.

It is no secret that the favourites let us down slightly, leaving us with a few more questions than answers, writes Page Fuller.

However, I think Teahupoo is one of the beaten favourites to keep on side at the spring Festivals. Bob Olinger sprung a surprise to dethrone him, but I think the clues to his defeat lie within the jumping data.

Unfortunately, on quicker ground such as the Festival presented this year, it highlights his Achilles heel in his slow jumping. Bob Olinger gained an advantage over Teahupoo of 2.73 lengths over the last three hurdles through slicker jumping.

Considering the beaten distance was only a length and three-quarters, it must have had an impact?

Crucially Teahupoo’s Jump Index of 6.1 was also the lowest we have seen from him in the past 18 months and reflects that we didn’t see him at his best last week.

He made light work of his rivals at Punchestown last May, and recorded a Jump Index of 8.0 out of 10.

Providing we get a bit of rain between now and the same meeting this year, we wouldn’t be surprised if we saw him back to his best once and turns the tables on Bob Olinger, if he ends up there too.