Despite being off the track for 11 months, Penhill won Thursday's Grade 1 Stayers' Hurdle at three miles at Cheltenham Racecourse, leaving trainer Willie Mullins delightfully surprised.

Penhill closed from last in a field of 15 to win the $451,750 race by two lengths as a 12-1 chance over 6-1 Supasundae. Wholestone (14-1) finished third, beaten five lengths. 

The race was closer than the margins indicated. Penhill was one of eight horses within a length of the front two hurdles from the finish. Ridden by Paul Townend, Penhill cruised to the front with a wide move and repelled a stubborn Supasundae after the last hurdle.

"I was quite surprised how little he was blowing after the race," Mullins said. 

"He was more fit than I thought. I was thinking we needed to get a race into him and we didn't."

Mullins indicated Penhill will be considered for a race at the Punchestown Festival in Ireland from April 24-28. Penhill won the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle here last March and was second in a Grade 1 race for novice hurdlers at Punchestown last year before the layoff.

A 7-year-old gelding by Mount Nelson, Penhill is owned by Tony Bloom, who owns Brighton Football Club of the English Premier League.