Left to right; Billaway, Grange Island and Le Malin jump the last together, with the former going on to prevail© Photo Healy Racing
Billaway (4/9f) was made to pull out all the stops, as he just prevailed in the Naas Farm Machinery Hunters Chase, winning this race for the fourth year in-a-row.
Ridden by Patrick Mullins for his father Willie, the eleven-year-old was sent straight to the front, doing well to survive a blunder at the ninth.
He wasn't fluent six out and was ridden and headed at the third last. Soon back in a three-way share of the lead, he battled gamely on the run-in, getting on top in the final 50 yards, going on to prevail by half-a-length.
.Le Malin (10/1) filled the runner-up spot under Noel McParlan, while Grange Island was just a neck away in third.
"He makes life hard for himself, as usual. What can we say, he got the job done but that's all," the winning trainer said.
"He needs to improve a bit, I think, to retain his championship in England but we'll hope for the best."
Speaking on Racing TV, Patrick Mullins added: "I was always going to win. He always steps at one every year in this race. I'm glad I didn't fall off, it would have been quite embarrassing if I did.
"I was always going to win but he is just getting older and I don't know if it's wiser or lazier but anyway, he won! He keeps me fit anyway.
"He is a brilliant jumper but just once in every race he loses concentration, that's just him. We put a tongue-tie on him today, maybe that wasn't the right thing to do, maybe he resented it, but I thought on the first lap that I was travelling very sweetly.
"I wouldn't mind putting a pair of blinkers on him, I don't know if Willie thinks the same. We'll have to consider it I think. He is not getting any younger and it's going to be hard to go back and win at Cheltenham. I think there is only one or two horses in the yard that have won more races than he has.
"He has given everyone lots of sport and will be very hard to replace.
"I was only bopping away on him and I'm even regretting hitting a slap or two, I just wasn't sure if the horse on the inside was coming with a run, I just couldn't quite see.
"There was more there. Once he got up against the rail and I got my stick in my left hand, he won better than it looked."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
