BRIGHTON owner Tony Bloom landed one of the biggest Cheltenham shocks ever when 100-1 Poniros stormed to victory in the Triumph Hurdle.
Former Flat horse Poniros cost around £200,000 and, incredibly, was making his debut for master trainer Willie Mullins.
AlamyTony Bloom sprung one of the biggest Cheltenham Festival shocks ever with his no-hoper Poniros[/caption]
Jonjo O’Neill Jr celebrates winning the Triumph on freak 100-1 outsider Poniros, owned by Brighton supremo Tony BloomSportsfile
WOW. 100-1
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 14, 2025
What a shock in the JCB Triumph Hurdle! Poniros beats out East India Dock and Lulamba#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/UfwLVscRP7
It looked like market leaders Lulamba and East India Dock were going to fight it out up the hill of the 2m1f Grade 1 for four-year-old horses.
But Poniros – who had NEVER jumped a hurdle in public – just kept finding and finding and finding to spring the mother of all shocks and become the biggest-priced winner ever of the prestigious race.
He is the biggest price winner of a race at the Festival since Norton’s Coin in 1990, some 35 years ago.
Bloom bagged a tidy cheque for £84,405 with the win.
It remains to be seen if the legendary gambler – dubbed ‘the cleverest man to ever place a bet’ – had backed his own horse.
One lucky punter did though, sticking down £100 each way at 150-1 witn an on-course bookie to collect £18,200 in all.
Hopefully he had after seeing £50,000 go down the drain on his other horse Energumene earlier in the week.
He finished last in the Champion Chase.
While Bunting, another one he owns in the blue of his beloved Brighton, was punted heavily but was pulled up in the Coral Cup.
Stunned winning jockey Jonjo O’Neill Jnr said: “It’s crazy. It’s a funny old game because I was meant to be at Doncaster today.
“After declarations my agent, Alain Cawley, said Willie needed a jockey, but he said I should stay at Doncaster too.
“But with the way this week has been going anything of Willie’s has a chance.
“It’s unbelievable. That’s his first appearance in public over hurdles – what a place to do it.
“I really can’t believe he won!”
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