Great Field clear under Jody McGarvey© Photo Healy Racing
Jody McGarvey had to sit tight again as Great Field gave odds-on punters a scare in the Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase at Thurles.
Willie Mullins' bold front-runner soon opened up a clear lead in the 2m2f and extended that advantage before halfway.
The 4/11 shot was a distance clear as his field struggled turning for home but a mistake two out had McGarvey up his neck briefly.
The jockey had famously performed heroics to stay on board after a last fence blunder by the JP McManus-owned gelding at Leopardstown earlier in the month.
The pair soon recovered today and popped the last for an effortless 32-length success. Hurricane Ben won the battle for the runner-up spot on the run-in, getting the better of Alamein
"You're always waiting for him to do something stupid - when he meets them good, he's very very good but you're always waiting for him to meet one wrong but on the whole he was very good today,” said racing manager Frank Berry.
"We'll have to talk to Willie now - I don't know if he'll get a bit further or not but if he did the Ryanair Gold Cup (2m4f) at Fairyhouse could be a possible option. Obviously with the pace he shows, you wouldn't want to be going much further."
(Quotes by Thomas Weekes)
