Porlock Bay scored by a short head in the St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase to hand Great Britain its first winner on day four, denying the big Irish hope and favourite Billaway in a thrilling finish, with Staker Wallace again making the frame to finish third.
It was a first Festival success for jockey Lorcan Williams and for trainer Will Biddick, although the latter did partner Something Wells to victory in 2009 in what is now the Paddy Power Plate. Biddick would ordinarily have been in the saddle today but is unable to ride at present due to COVID-19 regulations.
Biddick said: “I just can’t tell you what’s gone through my body in the last five minutes. I was in bits watching that. I was running up the side of the course with Lorcan, just screaming and I was in tears, I was a right softy.
“I’m so glad for Lorcan and John Studd the owner. It’s not just me, it’s a big team in the yard and a lot of boxes to be ticked to get here today. We were grateful just to be here today, so to top it off with that is phenomenal.
“He has spent most of his life in France, so right from the start it was the plan to come here. We haven’t done Plan A to get here and to qualify, it’s been mixed with Covid and waterlogging, but for whatever reason, it’s worked and the result today… I promise you, I’m in pieces right now!
“I said ride him with loads of confidence, get him in a rhythm, keep relaxed — he knows the horse well — and ride him like he is the best thing in the race and you can see there, he’s taken a pull out of him.
“Between horse and rider, they had so much confidence and the way he’s jumped is magnificent, and he has stormed up the hill and you just want them to hold on don’t you, so it’s great.
Lorcan Williams added: “He jumped the last really well. He was having a little bit of a wander up the run in as it is quite daunting. I felt he was doing enough but the line kept getting further and further away. I wasn’t sure who won as I sort of just had tunnel vision and tried keeping as balanced and as straight as I could.
“Will has helped me a hell of a lot over the last few years. He has always been an idol of mine growing up through the point-to-point ranks, he was champion amateur and it has been a pleasure to ride for him. It’s a dream come true.
Willie Mullins, trainer of runner-up Billaway, said: “Our fellow jumped well and ran a great race. It was one of the finishes of the week.
“You win some, you lose some, and three years ago in the National Hunt Chase Patrick beat Will Biddick in a similar sort of finish, when Patrick was riding Rathvinden and Will was on Ms Parfois. Will got one back on us!”
Mark Walsh, aboard third-placed Staker Wallace for Enda Bolger, said: “Happy enough with that run, I got a good spin round on him. It was a very strong pace early on but he stayed on well and no complaints with finishing third.”
