Poniros likely to be given green light for Champion Hurdle
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Wed 4 Feb 2026
Poniros is likely to take up his engagement in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after finishing a creditable third in the Irish equivalent at Leopardstown.
The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was beaten 14 and a half lengths by Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead at the Dublin Racing Festival on Sunday, with Lossiemouth splitting them.
Poniros already has a Festival win to his name as he took the Triumph Hurdle on his debut over obstacles last year at 100-1, and a lack of alternative options this year means a return to the meeting is probable.
“His options are limited because he’s only had three runs over hurdles so we can’t get into any of the handicaps,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to owner Tony Bloom.
“We will probably have to go down the Champion Hurdle route with him, he was beaten about 14 lengths and while I don’t think he’ll improve 14lb I could see him improving five or six lengths for the run.
“Stranger things have happened, he’s going to be 100-1 but we all know what happened the last time he was 100-1 at Cheltenham.
“Having the Triumph Hurdle winner is brilliant, but the following season the horse becomes very difficult to place as you don’t want to run them before Christmas to give them chance to mature.
“Then you have a narrow window to run them in before going back to Cheltenham, but it is what it is and I would say the chances are the Champion Hurdle will be his race.”
Also in action at the Dublin Racing Festival was The Reverend, trained by Mullins and owned by Bloom alongside Ian McAleavy.
The five-year-old won on his hurdles debut at Cork earlier in the term and was contesting the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle on his second start, but he unseated rider Harry Cobden after seemingly clipping heels.
“He’s fine, he just seemed to clip heels with one of the other horses,” said Graham.
“When I first watched it I thought he’d been intimidated by the winner as he just moved out to make a challenge, The Reverend’s then just jinked sideways and Harry’s gone out the side door.
“Thankfully Harry is fine and the horse is fine, there’s not a bother on him. No cuts or bruises or anything.
“You have to wonder where he’d have finished, he was right on the tail of the winner at the time though admittedly the winner was travelling better.
“He might have finished fourth or fifth, he’ll improve for it and, again, he’s another horse with limited options so I think he’ll probably go to the Supreme.”
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