The fact that Willie Mullins has fired in the winners at the Cheltenham Festival will hardly come as a surprise. However, the 2025 edition of the greatest show on National Hunt turf has been far from predictable.
From the opening day carnage of the Champion Hurdle to the almighty errors of odds-on shots Majborough, Ballyburn, and Jonbon, punters hoping for easy pickings have been left licking their wounds.
That’s not to say that there haven’t been bright spots. The well-fancied Kopeck Des Bordes, Lossiemouth, and Fact To File all delivered, but overall, the 2025 Cheltenham Festival has proven more than a little tricky for punters. Perhaps things would settle down on Day 4. Then again, maybe not.
Strong Challengers at the Head Of Triumph Hurdle Market
It will shock no one that Mullins landed the opening Triumph Hurdle on the final day of the meeting. The Closutton maestro is, after all, the most successful trainer in Cheltenham Festival history and was responsible for no fewer than 11 of the 17 runner field. Not bad odds then. However, those stats don’t come close to telling the full story.
Triumph Hurdle 2025 Runners
| No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Lemons | Willie Mullins | Rachael Blackmore | 12/1 |
| 2 | Charlus | Willie Mullins | Sean O’Keeffe | 66/1 |
| 3 | East India Dock | James Owen | Sam Twiston-Davies | 5/4F |
| 4 | Gibbs Island | Tom Lacey | Stan Sheppard | 28/1 |
| 5 | Hello Neighbour | Gavin Cromwell | Keith Donoghue | 7/2 |
| 6 | Larzac | Willie Mullins | Mark Walsh | 33/1 |
| 7 | Lulamba | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville | 11/4 |
| 9 | Mondo Man | Gary & Josh Moore | Brian Hughes | 33/1 |
| 10 | Pappano | Willie Mullins | Sean Flanagan | 150/1 |
| 11 | Poniros | Willie Mullins | Jonjo O’Neill Jr | 100/1 |
| 12 | Too Bossy For Us | Willie Mullins | Harry Cobden | 50/1 |
| 13 | Willy De Houelle | Willie Mullins | Brian Hayes | 40/1 |
| 14 | Lady Vega Allen | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend | 14/1 |
| 15 | Lumiere Du Large | Willie Mullins | Kevin Sexton | 200/1 |
| 16 | Opec | James Owen | Sean Bowen | 150/1 |
| 17 | Place De La Nation | Willie Mullins | Danny Gilligan | 100/1 |
| 18 | Sainte Lucie | Willie Mullins | Danny Mullins | 50/1 |
| NR | Marche d’Aligre | Jamie Snowden | – | – |
Mullins may have boasted strength in numbers, but the market made this a shootout between the British-trained duo of East India Dock and Lulamba. Hailing from the rising force that is the James Owen operation, East India Dock was smashed into 5/4 favouritism in the build-up to the race. Arriving on the back of two successive wins at the track by a combined 28 lengths, his claims advertised themselves.
The Mrs J Donnelly-owned Lulamba couldn’t quite match the form of the market leader, but he hadn’t yet been given the chance to do so. He had nevertheless posted a smooth success on his British debut to add to his perfect one-from-one record in France and, in Nicky Henderson, had the most successful trainer in Triumph Hurdle history on his side.
Many of those supporting the Irish trainers were turning, not to Mullins, but rather to the Gavin Cromwell-trained Hello Neighbour, who was last sighted finishing with a flourish to claim a Grade 1 juvenile contest at Leopardstown. With reopposing rivals Lady Vega Allen, Willy De Houelle, and Sainte Lucie amongst those in behind, he was the shortest-priced Irish runner on the day.
But Hurdles Debutante Upstages Them All
Returning to the Mullins contingent, the aforementioned Lady Vega Allen brought the best form into the race, but the flood of money for Blue Lemons suggested the mount of Rachael Blackmore may be the one to get the job done.
Mullins’ nine other runners started at odds ranging from 33/1 to 150/1, suggesting his hopes were not as good as they might have seemed based on quantity alone. Lurking amongst the longer-priced brigade was a horse going by the name of Poniros. Unraced over hurdles and deemed likely to be a horse for next year by his trainer, the main selling point for this Tony Bloom-owned challenger was the fact that he would probably like the ground. And perhaps that Bloom knows a thing or two about upsetting the odds.
Poniros not only liked the ground, but wasted little time in proving himself a natural over hurdles. The improbable victory still appeared relatively unlikely in the home straight as market principles East India Dock, Lulamba, and Lady Vega Allen knuckled down on the run to the line. However, all were beginning to reach the end of their tether in what was turning into a war of attrition. Not so Poniros, who began to make ground approaching the last, closed in ominously inside the final hundred yards and collared Lulamba close home to score by a neck, with East India Dock back in third.
Triumph Hurdle 2025 Result
| Pos. | Horse (SP) | Distance | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Poniros (100/1) | – | £84,405 |
| 2nd | Lulamba (11/4) | + Neck | £31,800 |
| 3rd | East India Dock (5/4F) | + ¾ Length | £15,915 |
It was another huge blow for backers of the more fancied contenders. But a very handsome payout indeed for those brave souls who took a chance on the unheralded son of Golden Horn. And the longest-priced winner in Triumph Hurdle history
