Triumph one-two Poniros and Lulamba clash again as Willie Mullins assembles another juvenile army

It is the turn of the Triumph Hurdle form to be placed under the microscope with eight runners from the Cheltenham Grade 1 reopposing here.

They include the 100-1 winner Poniros, who surprised even his trainer Willie Mullins when striking late to win by a neck on his first start over hurdles. He reached a decent level on the Flat for Ralph Beckett and that seemed to make all the difference inside the the final three furlongs.

You would expect him to progress for the experience but he will have to if he is to once again get the better of Lulamba, who remains an exciting prospect for Nicky Henderson and arguably shaped the better of the pair, having been in the thick of the action in a well-run race at Cheltenham.

Mullins has nine of the 12 runners, having run 11 in the Triumph, and of those there is a strong case to be made for Murcia, who finished eighth in the Fred Winter before relegating the winner to third when taking a big step forward in the Grade 1 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree last month.

There should be more to come from Blue Lemons, who flopped in the Triumph but redeemed himself when landing a Fairyhouse Grade 2 by seven lengths last month, while it would be no surprise to see Too Bossy For Us run well at a price for the in-form Mullins and Harry Cobden combination.

The one who looks most likely to improve for the Triumph is Hello Neighbour, who travelled well before a tired mistake at the last. He lost his unbeaten record and just seemed to be found out by the uphill run to the line. This test will suit him better and he is underrated in the market.

'Our horse is improving and we've got to have a rematch'

Nicky Henderson is hoping an improving Lulamba can right the wrongs of Cheltenham and reverse the form with surprise 100-1 winner Poniros. 

Lulamba was cut to 2-1 (from 12) for the Triumph after beating Mondo Man on his British debut at Ascot in January. After missing the Grade 1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree due to unsuitable ground, he is likely to be sent off favourite to get back on track here.

Lulamba: an impressive winner on his hurdle debut at AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He’s had only two runs this season so he can afford another one. He’s very, very fresh and well in himself so we’d thought we would give it a go and try to end the season on a high," said Henderson, who is bidding for his fifth win in the Grade 1.

"They have every reason to believe Poniros could improve but I think our horse is improving too. I wouldn't say he's better than at Cheltenham but we've got to have a rematch."

Following the Triumph, Henderson said Lulamba was a "little untidy" and that the winner struck so late that he was unable to respond. There were not many who saw Poniros coming, including Mullins, who said he had pulled him in from the field to gain a little bit of experience at the festival.

What they say

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Hello Neighbour
He was running really well at Cheltenham but just made a mess of the last and didn’t get going again. His work is good and he’s had plenty of time to freshen up. Punchestown isn't as testing as Cheltenham, which should help him. If he jumps well then you'd like to think he has a good chance.

Rachael Blackmore, rider of Murcia
She ran well for a long way in the Fred Winter, finishing less than nine lengths behind the winner Puturhandstogether. She stepped forward at Aintree, where she had the Fred Winter winner in third and seemed to enjoy the flatter track.

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