Billaway and Patrick Mullins© Photo Healy Racing
Billaway has been cut to 5/1 favourite for the Cheltenham Foxhunters Chase next March as Willie Mullins' high class hunter returned to winning ways in the Bluegrass Horse Feeds Hunters Chase under the Champion Trainer's son Patrick Mullins.
No Mullins trainer or jockey has ever won the Cheltenham Foxhunters and while Billaway was second to It Came To Pass in the race last March, both horses reappeared at Fairyhouse last month with Billaway faring better, with a second-place finish, despite blundering at the final fence.
Today Billaway readily reversed form with his Fairyhouse conqueror Stand Up And Fight who disappointed in 19L fourth, and following the race jockey Mullins reported “he seemed to hit a flat spot again today and then came back on it although his jumping is getting much quicker.
“In Cheltenham last year we weren't losing ground, but we weren't making any ground at every fence whereas the winner (It Came To Pass) was.
"I think the extra experience he has this year will shorten the gap, hopefully.
"I think he is still improving and I think he is a better horse this year than last year. I think his jumping is getting slicker. That's what he needed to do, so he is doing it.
"There's no Leopardstown, so he'll go to Thurles at the end of January."
Billaway is now 5/1 favourite (from 7s) for the Cheltenham Foxhunters Chase, with last year's winner It Came To Pass next best at 12/1, followed by Shantou Flyer at 14s and Red Indian and William Wallace both at 16/1.
Quotes from Michael Graham
