He was also appointed as Togu Daibu (Master of the Crown Prince's Quarters) and Ukone no daisho (Major Captain of the Right Division of Inner Palace Guards), was promoted to Naidaijin (Minister of the Interior) in 1047 and Udaijin (Minister of the Right), and was called Horikawa no Udaijin.
春宮大夫・右近衛大将などを兼任し、1047年（永承2年）内大臣、1060年（康平3年）に右大臣に昇任し、堀河右大臣と呼ばれた。