Veteran hunter chaser Billaway proved far too strong for young pretender Vaucelet in the feature Down Royal Corporation Of Horse Breeders Hunter Chase at Downpatrick.

The Willie Mullins trained former Cheltenham Hunter Chase winner was sent off second favourite against the odds on David Christie runner.

However, the big battle that most expected to materialise never came to pass, as the latter jumped to his left over the final two fences, giving away valuable ground to his older rival.

Patrick Mullins kicked clear on the eventual winner after jumping the last and the partnership had 3 lengths to spare at the finish.

Patrick Mullins said: "He's a real three-mile chaser, very athletic.

"In Cheltenham and Punchestown, he had blinkers on and perhaps that was a contributing factor to me falling off him and him falling.

"Every jump you just have to be forward into it. A three-mile chaser you should be able to get into a rhythm and let them pop away.

"He was brilliant today and fantastic for Downpatrick to put on this prize. Billaway won here four years ago, his first hunters' chase and he has been to Cheltenham and Punchestown, and it is great to come back here again.

"He has been a super horse, he has been sound and on the go five or six years. He has gone to Cheltenham and he has gone to Aintree, which he didn't like, and he has been here and Down Royal.

"Any owner would be proud to have him and John Turner really enjoys him."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham