PEN FRIEND
Willie tops Hendo
TONY BLOOM, the owner of Brighton and Hove Albion FC, is hoping his run of success continues this weekend after his colours were carried to victory by Penhill in the Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle.
Bloom’s beloved Brighton take on Manchester United in a FA Cup quarter final tomorrow.
“There would be some celebration if we can win that as well,” said Bloom. “We had a bet on Penhill, more with hope than expectation, but it was a good price.”
It was also a remarkable training performance from Willie Mullins as 12-1 chance Penhill, winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle here last year, had not run for 323 days.
Given a patient ride by Paul Townend, Penhill could be called the winner a mile from home as he was cantering, unlike his rivals who were floundering on the testing ground. Once Townend gave him his head Penhill rocketed up the hill, with last year’s Coral Cup winner Supasundae getting the better of Wholestone for the minor honours.
Sam Spinner, sent off the 9-4 favourite, made the running under Joe Colliver until unable to raise more than his one pace from the turn into the home straight.
Mullins said: “Penhill must have some engine. I could not believe it watching Paul come down the outside and I thought ‘wow – if he fluffs the last then he could blow up and fall in a hole’, but he met the last perfectly.
“A lot of credit has to go to Holly Conte who leads him up, rides him and does everything with him. She has virtually trained this horse herself, I think.
“She minds him because he is fairly fragile. I will attribute this to Holly.”
Mullins toppled Nicky Henderson as the most successful trainer in the all-time list at the Festival when Laurina romped to success in the Trull House Mares’ Hurdle, giving him his 61st winner. It was also gave Townend his second win of the day.
“It’s unbelievable, when you start training you hope for one winner here,” said the modest Mullins.
“This is a great aspiration that most Irish trainers have. This isn’t something we ever dreamt of because we thought training in Ireland would not make it possible.”