Great Field jumps the last under Jody McGarvey© Photo Healy Racing
Great Field made it five from five over fences, as he made all to win the Grade 2 Webster Cup at Navan.
An facile winner of the Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival last season, the Willie Mullins trained seven-year-old was easy to back this afternoon.
Odds-on in early shows, the son of Great Pretender opened on-course at 11/10 before eventually going off joint-favourite at 11/8 with Doctor Phoenix
Sent straight to the front by Jody McGarvey, the JP McManus owned victor jumped well throughout and had all his rivals in trouble from three out.
Doctor Phoenix, who was settled well off the pace, closed from before the last, and the winner needed to be pushed out close home to see off that rival by a length and three parts.
Davy Russell was aboard the runner-up for Gordon Elliott, while Alisier D'irlande was another eighteen lengths back in third.
Mullins said afterwards: "He jumped very well today and I don't think he made any mistakes or heart-stopping moments. He seems to have settled better, and to do that first time out on that ground was very good.
"He was even a lot more settled in the parade ring and going down to the start. He's getting more mature.
"There is not a lot for him. Punchestown (Champion Chase) would look the obvious one, whether he goes to Aintree or not I doubt it. I'd imagine he will just have the one more run."
STEWARDS REPORT
P. Townend, rider of American Tom (FR) trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a respiratory noise.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
