Willie Mullins wins Cheltenham Festival race with 100/1 shot for Brighton owner after running 'full football team'

Willie Mullins tasted success in Friday's opening race with his largest ever priced winner at the Cheltenham Festival as Poniros won the Triumph Hurdle.

The trainer ran the equivalent of a full football team in the race as he saddled 11 of the 17 runners.

And it paid off as 100/1 shot Poniros won under jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr, who was meant to be riding at Doncaster rather than Cheltenham on Friday.

Poniros triumphed in the colours of Brighton & Hove Albion chairman and renowned gambler Tony Bloom in what was the horse's first ever run over hurdles.

Mullins admitted he "couldn’t believe it" after the race after the gelding got up late to beat the well-fancied pair of Lulamba (11/4) and East India Dock (5/4 favourite).

“He’s the sort of horse you’re looking for. I didn’t expect that," said the trainer.

"Did Tony Bloom back him? If he did, it wasn’t on my advice! We were hoping he would run well and be a nice horse for next year, so he’s ahead of schedule.

“We bought him in October, schooled him and gave him a break. We said we’d better drag him in from the field and get him ready for Cheltenham, and that’s what we did. But I didn’t expect any more than a nice run.

"We had a lot of horses in the race and they all came here with the same plan. I couldn’t believe it when I saw him flying through the middle of them. I just couldn’t believe it."

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