WE mean to take nothing away from rider Patrick Mullins, trainer Willie Mullins and owner John Turner but, when Billaway, after finishing second in the two previous renewals of the St James Place Festival Hunters’ Chase, made it third time lucky at Cheltenham last Friday week most point-to-point enthusiasts had hoped he was booked for the runner-up slot again.

They wanted Barry O’Neill to be first past the post on the David Christie-trained Winged Leader but, after giving his all, that eight-year-old Winged Love gelding was collared close home and went down by a neck to the 13/8 favourite.

Gutted

O’Neill was visibly gutted on pulling up after such a battle up the hill but, when interviewed on Racing TV, Christie was chivalrous in defeat, as was joint-owner Jennifer O’Kane, with the pair being immensely proud of their horse.

At home too, it was a case of ‘seconditis’ for the Derrylin trainer as his Deckie Lavery-partnered Ask D’Man, who too is owned by O’Kane and her partner John Hegarty, filled the runner-up spot in the Bluegrass Fastrak Hunters’ Chase at Down Royal on St Patrick’s Day and, under Oran McGill, Ray Nicholas’s Handy Headon was beaten a short-head in the Boardsmill Sires Maiden Hunters Chase at Downpatrick on Sunday.

Flood family

The Flood family of Boardsmill Stud have long been supporters of Downpatrick so it was good to see that one of their sires, Court Cave, had a winner on the card in the shape of the Gerry Keane-trained Howaya Aoife who recorded her first success over fences in the WKD Handicap Chase.

Referring back to Billaway, he was one of five winners on the day for Willie Mullins who was assisted in saddling his many runners throughout the week by his good friend, Culcavy bloodstock agent Harold Kirk.