Farclas (8-1) scored an upset win in Friday's Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle for 4-year-olds in the first race at Cheltenham, a seventh win at the four-day meeting for Irish trainer Gordon Elliott.

Elliott won three races on Wednesday and Thursday's program and is having a career-best week at this four-day event that ends this afternoon.

Farclas was ridden by Jack Kennedy, a personal-best fourth win of the week for the 18-year-old jockey and a sixth win of the week for owner Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud. Gigginstown House had three consecutive wins on Thursday.

Farclas, a French-bred gelding by Jukebox, raced in the middle of the field of nine in the $174,375 Triumph Hurdle over eight obstacles. Farclas moved into contention in the final half-mile and took the lead at the last hurdle, drawing clear to win by 1 3-4 lengths over 8-1 Mr Adjudicator. Sayo (33-1) was third in the field of nine.

Apple's Shakira, the 6-5 favorite, faded from contention in the final three furlongs and finished fourth. Longtime leader Stormy Ireland took a nasty fall at the last, but was on her feet and was walked off after five minutes.

Farclas won for the first time in three starts over hurdles in the Triumph Hurdle, having finished second in graded stakes Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland in late December and early February. Farclas was a winner at 1 1-2 miles in a race for 3-year-olds at 1 1-2 miles on turf at Clairefontaine, France, last August, his only win in four starts in flat races.