Penhill takes Stayers' Hurdle
Friday 16 March 2018 01:18, UK
Penhill struck for the second year running at the Cheltenham Festival when springing a 12-1 surprise for trainer Willie Mullins in the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle.
Successful in the Albert Bartlett in 2017, Penhill had been absent for 323 days but shrugged off his race-rustiness to give Mullins his sixth winner of the week.
Ridden by Paul Townend, Penhill carried the colours of Brighton chairman Tony Bloom home by two lengths from Supasundae, following a scrap up the hill.
Wholestone stayed on strongly for third.
Townend said: "He's got a massive engine. It was some training performance. I got there too soon and luckily he kept going
"He jumped rusty enough early on but when I needed him at the last he produced."
Reflecting on the race and looking to future plans, Mullins said: "Paul said to me he got to the front way too soon.
"I have to give a lot of credit to his lass, Holly Conte, who rides him every day and treats him like a child every night, she really looks after him.
"He has little niggles that need tending and that is why he missed the whole of the Flat season. When I told her at the start I wanted this fellow for Cheltenham, she's got him here.
"I was hoping to get a run into him but without it - it's hard enough coming here for a two-mile race without one, never mind three (miles) in a championship race on this ground, it's a huge achievement on the horse's part.
"I was quite surprised how little he was blowing, he was way fitter than I thought he was.
"It just shows the ability he has, but I'll try not to go on the Flat as that was when his problems flared up. We'll maybe go to Punchestown and have a proper jumps campaign next year."
Jessica Harrington, trainer of Supasundae, said: "I'm delighted. At least he has come back and shown he is a proper Grade One horse. It was a fantastic run and I know he will be better on better ground. He jumped brilliantly. He is a lot better horse this year than he was last year.
"He was maybe just a bit outstayed on that ground, but it was a very brave run. He could go to Aintree, but we will see as we've got Punchestown as well.
"He had a hard race there and I just might keep him for Punchestown."
