'I was crying when he was coming up the run-in!' - winning trainer's reaction

He has won more point-to-points than any other British rider and landed plenty of big prizes but Will Biddick was "in pieces" after a desperately tight win for Porlock Bay – and he wasn't even on board.

The multiple champion was not allowed to take part in the St James's Place Festival Hunter Chase due to pandemic rules that restrict riding to professionals.

So Lorcan Williams was on board the 16-1 shot, who jumped into a narrow lead at the second-last fence and was pressed strongly by 2-1 favourite Billaway up the run-in, getting the verdict by just a short head after the judge studied the photo.

Click here to watch a pulsating finish to the Hunters' Chase

Biddick, who has a dozen pointers at his breaking and pre-training yard in Somerset, said: "I've been a bag of nerves all day. I started crying when he was coming up the run-in! It's an unbelievable feeling. I promise you, I'm in pieces right now!"

He rode a winner at the festival on Something Wells in the Plate 12 years ago and had plenty of faith in Porlock Bay, a French recruit he rode himself to success in a point last November before covid protocols forced him to hand over the reins to Williams for his prep run at Wincanton.

"I'd like to thank Will so much because as soon as he found out that amateurs were not allowed to ride he gave me a call and said 'We're going to win the Foxhunters this year' and by god was he right!" the jockey said – though he was not that sure victory was his as they crossed the line.

"He came alive when I gave him daylight and we were probably going too well," Williams said. "I didn't want to go for him too soon up the hill, it's quite punishing.

"He jumped the last really well and he was just having a bit of a wander up the run-in because it's quite daunting. I always felt he was doing enough but the line kept getting further and further away!

"I wasn't really sure who won. I was fairly confident but in this sort of situation I try not to get my hopes up too much, I'm quite a realist. I always felt I was doing enough but whether the line was on our side or not I didn't know."

Billaway's trainer Willie Mulins recalled: "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!"

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