Apolon De Charnie stuns Cheltenham crowd with 50-1 shock in Triumph Hurdle

Apolon De Charnie shocked the Cheltenham crowd with a 50-1 victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by his son Patrick, the four-year-old was aiming to keep the trophy in the Closutton stable after Poniros struck at 100-1 on what was his hurdling debut 12 months ago.

Though not quite as overlooked in the betting, the Edward Ware-owned gelding was still a surprise first head across the line, with 5-1 chance Maestro Conti behind him and Minella Study (7-1) in third.

Patrick Mullins – who famously teamed up with his father to win last year’s Grand National with Nick Rockett – said: “He was fantastic. He’s not very big, but he just caught my eye. I don’t usually watch the juveniles at home, but he caught my eye and I got a dream run everywhere.

“I’m very proud of my father. I’ve never seen him doubt himself as much as he has this winter. You get a lot of advice from people about what you’re doing wrong, but he sticks to his guns and gets it right most of the time.”

Willie Mullins added: “Only 50-1 this year and not 100-1 – I’m so disappointed! At least I could stand in the stand and shout ‘go on my son’, which was obviously the biggest thrill, to have Patrick riding it.

“I could see three or four of mine all in with chances and was trying to watch them all, but I’d be watching for Patrick one way or another – whether he had a chance or not – and every time I looked at him I was very happy.

“He came through to win the race at the last, then the other horse (Minella Study) kept going and I thought we were beat, but I loved the horse’s attitude – when he heard the Cheltenham roar, he put down his head and was very brave.”

Maestro Conti was tasting defeat for the first time, but trainer Dan Skelton was pleased with his performance in filling the runner-up spot.

He said: “He ran a very good race and I’m very proud of him.

“He travelled well and I could see Patrick (Mullins) travelling very well down to the last. My instinct was if our horse had produced a big jump at the last maybe he would have won, but the way Patrick was going I’m not convinced that was the truth.

“It was a great run, I’m very happy with him. I’d say he’ll make a fine horse going forward and I’ll probably run him at Aintree.”

Adam Nicol was left dreaming of the future after seeing his stable star Minella Study jump the last in front, saying: “Ryan (Mania) jumped off and the first thing he said was we’ve got a Grade One horse on our hands.

“We’ve only been beaten just over a length.

“He gave him a great ride. They are only juveniles, still babies and I love the fact I gave him that 90-day break as he’d been busy before that – we’ve looked after him.

“Touch wood he’s a relatively sound horse, so hopefully we’ll have a lot of good days to come out of him.

“I know he’s won here before but I’m sure he’ll be better on a flatter track – he’s got gears and his dam is a half-sister to Alborada.

“Next season he’ll take us to some nice places. I don’t know about Aintree, we’ll just see how he is in 10 days, (but) Aintree would suit him.

“When he jumped the last I’m surprised you couldn’t hear me shouting! There was a bloke looking at me thinking ‘who’s this?’ but he kept on and the winner saw it out better.

“Willie had nine in the race and he’s only put one in front of our horse – Willie has more runners today than I’ve got in my yard!”