Billaway crowned Champion Hunter Chaser

A rating of 131 for Billaway’s performance in the Cheltenham Foxhunters behind Porlock Bay saw him awarded this years Champion Hunter Chaser.

Billaway who runs in the familiar colours of John Turner, started his career with Tracey Gilmour and following his win at Ballinaboola in 2018 then joined the Willie Mullins stable.

Since then he has won four hunter chases, two of which came this season.

His first run of the season was a winning one when winning the Down Royal hunters chase in good style in the hands of Patrick Mullins.

The son of Well Chosen followed up on his victory when putting in another fine performance to land the Naas Hunters Chase when running out a two and quarter length victory over Staker Wallace.

The nine-year-old then went to the Cheltenham Festival which saw him only just touched off in the Foxhunters when been beaten a short head by Porlock Bay.  He achieved his winning rating after this performance when receiving a mark of 131.

Paul Townend was in the saddle on this occasion as amateur riders were not permitted to ride at this years Cheltenham Festival owing to covid restrictions.

The Willie Mullins trained gelding finished his season on another wrong side of a photo finish when just beaten a short head in the Punchestown Champion Hunters Chase by the Paul Nicholls trained Bob And Co.

His nearest rivals were Stand Up And Fight (123), Solomn Grundy (122), Staker Wallace (122) and Winged Leader (121).