Willie Mullins’ Poniros powered up the Cheltenham Hill to defy odds of 100/1 on his hurdling debut in the JCB Triumph Hurdle on Friday.

A former winner on the flat for Ralph Beckett, Poniros looked to face a stiff task on paper as he took on the likes of the well-fancied East India Dock and Lulamba on his hurdling debut.

The British-trained duo, who had dominated much of the pre-race build up, looked set to fight it out on the approach to the final flight, with East India Dock holding a slender advantage under Sam Twiston-Davies.

Lulamba then struck the front towards the near side rail with 50 yards to travel and it looked as though he would end the barren spell for Britain in the Friday opener.

However, there was to be one final twist in the tale as Poniros, who carried the famous colours of Brighton & Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom, arrived late on the scene to score by a neck for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Mullins – who saddled a staggering eleven runners in the opening contest – said: "He's by Golden Horn, who I think is going to make a very good sire over jumps.

"He's the sort of horse you're looking for. I didn't expect that. Did Tony Bloom back him? If he did, it wasn't on my advice! We were hoping he would run well and be a nice horse for next year, so he's ahead of schedule.

"We bought him in October, schooled him and gave him a break. We said we'd better drag him in from the field and get him ready for Cheltenham, and that's what we did. But I didn't expect any more than a nice run.

"We had a lot of horses in the race, and they all came here with the same plan. I couldn't believe it when I saw him flying through the middle of them. I just couldn't believe it.

"You must remember that he came from the Flat, so he had race experience - that's a huge advantage. We've done plenty of jumping at home with him. I didn't think he was sharp enough for this!

"I wasn't really watching him. It was Lady Vega Allen I fancied, and I thought, 'right, she's gone', and I could see the blue colours of Tony Bloom, and I thought, 'well, he hasn't got a runner for anyone else in the race!'

Whilst a trip to Punchestown now looks on the cards for the son of Derby winner Golden Horn, Mullins is already looking forward to a lofty flat campaign which could see him make up into a Melbourne Cup horse.

Mullins added: "I imagine he'll go to Punchestown, and then we'll find something at Royal Ascot, perhaps. He was bought as a dual-purpose horse, and I am hoping in time he might turn into a Melbourne Cup horse - that would be the long-term plan."

Jonjo O'Neill Jr said: "It's crazy. It's a funny old game. I was supposed to be in Doncaster today. After declarations, Alain Cawley, my agent, said that Willie was looking for a jockey.

"He actually said I should stay in Doncaster, but I said that the way this week is going, I'd much rather be riding one of Willie's. Anything of Willie's has a chance. It's unbelievable. That's his first ever appearance over hurdles in public. What a place!

"He was actually very good. I spoke to everyone, and they said that he'd been very straightforward, but obviously first time out in the Triumph is not so easy.

"He was a proper juvenile, to be honest. He was into the boards and had a little bit of scope. I felt coming down the hill I was going to definitely nick a little bit, I just felt coming towards the last that they weren't getting away from me. Stamina just kicked in.

"I couldn't have imagined having two winners this week, no. I was really hoping for one, and when we lost Springwell Bay, I thought it wasn't going to be my week.

Luckily Jagwah did it, and we were really just here for a good time today. It's turned into an even better time.

"The fact that he hadn't run over hurdles didn't bother me - Willie wouldn't have had him in the Triumph if he couldn't jump. He'd been well schooled, and I spoke to Rachael and Danny and Paul, and Patrick and Brian Hayes, and they all said he'd be absolutely fine, he'd had an engine and just might lack experience. It's some training performance."

Nicky Henderson remains excited about what the future may hold for his runner-up Lulamba, who lost little in defeat when denied a neck.

He said: "As Nico said, the winner has come so late that he couldn't see him and therefore couldn't respond to him.

"We are only a baby, and that is only the third run of his life. He will have learnt an awful lot today. He was just a little untidy on the way around.

"Off that pace, when you don't know a lot, it was tough for him, but he has got there. He has won the battle but lost the war.

"He has had the fight that everyone expected, and he fought his way back out of that. He is going to be lovely, and you can see by the size of him he is not for this season.

"He has got a great temperament and a great attitude. He will have learnt more today than in all of his life I would say.

"He is not built like your typical Triumph Hurdle horse. East India Dock and the winner were good flat horses. This one wouldn't win a flat race with a day's head start!

"It is certainly not out of the question to switch him to fences next season. Rather like we did with Sir Gino this season it was let's see where Constitution Hill is and how everybody is going. He is going to be very special."