'I have a squeak here' - Billaway and Patrick Mullins pull off unlikely success

Friday: Hunters' Chase, Cheltenham

Billaway and Patrick Mullins came from an almost impossible position to run down Winged Leader and Barry O'Neill for a barely-credible success in the St James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase (4.10).

Ridden away from several fences in the back straight and having survived a bad mistake five fences from home, Billaway stayed on bravely to grind down the leader, improving on his runner-up efforts in each of the last two years.

The success made it four wins out of five on the day for Willie Mullins and briefly established a new record of nine at the Cheltenham Festival, a figure swiftly revised following the win of Elimay in the Mares' Chase 40 minutes later.

Patrick Mullins received a four-day ban for using his whip above the permitted number of times in the straight.

St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase full result and race replay

"He gets behind the bridle – that's why we put the cheekpieces on – and he wasn't jumping fantastic, it was an effort for him," said the rider.

"But in fairness every time I asked him he came and he was very brave at his jumps.

"I just thought, when I landed at the back of the second-last, I have a squeak here. And he stays so well. Dave Porter who looks after him, he's a magic man."

Billaway travelled like a 999-1 chance at times and jumped two out a remote and tired-looking third.

The 13-8 favourite was matched on Betfair for just £3 at 21, and a further £85 at 20. In contrast more than £16,000 was traded at 1.16 on the luckless Winged Leader.

While his father was not finished racking up the winners in a remarkable week for the Closutton team, the jockey took the opportunity to pay his own tribute.

"Yeah sure, he's alright at what he does isn't he?" he said.

"He's very good. He's an incredible man for [taking the] pressure but look, to be the boss's son and get to ride the horses makes me a very lucky person."

The television cameras caught the sheer frustration pouring out as Patrick slammed his whip into the ground after unseating from Chacun Pour Soi in the Champion Chase on Wednesday.

It is no small tribute to him that, with Billaway joining Stattler and Facile Vega on the roll of honour this week, he has finished the week level with Blackmore at joint-second in the jockeys' standings behind Paul Townend.

On a day when the ball most assuredly bounced the way of the Mullins team it was impossible not to feel for Winged Leader and O'Neill, who said: "It's just sickening to get chinned like that after the horse has given such a great performance.

"I'm gutted. Not only for myself, but for [trainer] David Christie and the horse. He was just so good, he's so, so tough and jumps and stays."

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