The QuinnBet Hunter Chase at Naas served up one of the finishes of the day as Its On The Line just held on to foil the five-in-a-row bid of Billaway.
Ramillies and Billaway had cut out much of the early running , with Ramillies, a four-time open winner this season, striding on heading out on the second circuit, and as Billaway steady lost his position, it was Its On The Line who replaced him to ensure that there was no let up in the gallop.
With four fences to jump, Ramillies and Its On The line had stretched upwards of 12 lengths clear of their nearest pursuers, Ramillies and the dual Grade 1 winner Battleoverdoyen, who both became further adrift as the home bend approached.
Maxine O’Sullivan aboard David Christie’s grey looked to be going best of all with a two length lead rounding the home bend, however his effort took its toll on the climb to the final fences.
Whilst Its On The Line jumped into a narrow lead at the last, all the while, Billaway was beginning to close in a gallant effort to retain his crown.
With Ramillies stopping to a walk on the run-in, It’s On The Line idled on the run-in, but with Billaway closing with every stride, he was able to raise his effort in the shadows of winning post to secure victory for Derek O’Connor.
WHAT. A. FINISH %uD83D%uDD25
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 10, 2024
Billaway, winner of the race for the last four years, comes from out of the clouds to scare the life out of favourite backers in the @quinnbet Hunters Chase.
Its On The Line fell in! %uD83D%uDC40 pic.twitter.com/PR4Is9oQgn
“Its On The Line isn't good for the heart but there’s loads of ability in there, it's just a matter of coaxing it out of him,” winning trainer Emmet Mullins said.
“He looked a sitting duck for the fast-finishing horse, but he picked up and went again.
“He’s a tough cookie and hopefully cheekpieces might help for the big day the next day. He was second there last year and will go there again.”
Following the success, Its On The Line is now top-priced 7/2 second favourite for the hunter chase at next month’s Cheltenham Festival, a race that he finished second in last year.
