Penhill and Supasundae jump the last© Photo Healy Racing
Penhill struck for the second year running at the Cheltenham Festival when springing a 12-1 surprise for trainer Willie Mullins in the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle.
Successful in the Albert Bartlett in 2017, Penhill had been absent for 323 days but shrugged off his race-rustiness to give Mullins his sixth winner of the week.
Ridden by Paul Townend, Penhill carried the colours of Brighton chairman Tony Bloom home by two lengths from Supasundae following a scrap up the hill. Wholestone stayed on strongly for third.
Townend said: "He's got a massive engine.
"It was some training performance. I got there too soon and luckily he kept going.
"He jumped rusty enough early on but when I needed him at the last he produced."
Mullins said: "It's fantastic for connections. I want to put him away now for Cheltenham next year.
"He's not suited to training to the Flat and he's able to do this job so well."
Reflecting on the race and looking to future plans, Mullins said: "Paul said to me he got to the front way too soon.
"I have to give a lot of credit to his lass Holly Conte, who rides him every day and treats him like a child every night, she really looks after him.
"He has little niggles that need tending and that is why he missed the whole of the Flat season. When I told her at the start I wanted this fellow for Cheltenham, she's got him here.
"I was hoping to get a run into him but without it - it's hard enough coming here for a two-mile race without one, never mind three (miles) in a championship race on this ground, it's a huge achievement on the horse's part.
"I was quite surprised how little he was blowing, he was way fitter than I thought he was.
"It just shows the ability he has, but I'll try not to go on the Flat as that was when his problems flared up. We'll maybe go to Punchestown and have a proper jumps campaign next year."
Jessica Harrington, trainer of Supasundae, said: "I'm delighted. At least he has come back and shown he is a proper Grade One horse. It was a fantastic run and I know he will be better on better ground. He jumped brilliantly. He is a lot better horse this year than he was last year.
"He was maybe just a bit outstayed on that ground, but it was a very brave run. He could go to Aintree, but we will see as we've got Punchestown as well.
"He had a hard race there and I just might keep him for Punchestown." Sam Spinner was sent off the 9-4 favourite but had to settle for fifth place.
His trainer Jedd O'Keeffe said: "I think it has come a year too soon for him and Joe (Colliver) just felt he was looking around at everything. It has been a rapid rise for him, being a very inexperienced novice at the start of the season to coming here for a Grade One at the Cheltenham Festival.
"We've had to come, having won a Grade One at Ascot, but I think probably his lack of experience just told a little bit. I'm not feeling nearly as disappointed as I thought I might. He is a very good horse still and we've got plenty of time on our hands to try to win something like this again.
"I think it has been great all the media attention and one or two people might know who I am now. We will definitely look at Aintree, but we will see how he comes out of this first as we have trained him for today, but we will see how he is and see what the ground will be like.
"If he is OK we will probably try him once more this year."
