Great Field, one of last season’s best novice chasers, maintained his unbeaten record over fences with a successful return to action on the card at Navan on Friday, and Willie Mullins’s seven-year-old could now line up for the Grade One Champion Chase at Punchestown’s Festival meeting next month.
In the free-running style that became familiar in his four starts last term, Great Field was quick to grab the lead under Jody McGarvey while Doctor Phoenix, who had joined him at the head of the betting at 11-8 shortly before the off, was held up by Davy Russell. Doctor Phoenix made significant ground in the straight, but Great Field had plenty left and was comfortably on top as he crossed the line with almost two lengths to spare.
Great Field’s engine is clearly intact and he was more fluent at his fences that was sometimes the case in his novice campaign.
“He jumped very well today and I don’t think he made any mistakes or heart-stopping moments,” Mullins said. “To do that first time out on that [heavy] 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 would looks the obvious one, whether he goes to Aintree [in mid-April] or not, I doubt it.”
Mullins also reported Douvan to be back in work following his heavy fall in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last week.
Making his first appearance since suffering a shock defeat and injury in the same race 12 months earlier, Douvan appeared to be travelling and jumping with all his old zest until coming to grief four fences from the finish in the hands of the trainer’s son, Patrick. Mullins said: “Douvan is in good form. He’s been riding out and there is not a bother on him after his fall at Cheltenham. Hopefully he stays right.”
On the domestic cards, Madrinho (2.10) can register his first success for Tony Carroll at Lingfield having shown plenty of promise on a drop back to the six-furlong trip for his debut for the stable last time. Equally Fast (3.15) - who was scratched from a race at Wolverhampton yesterday – will be hard to beat on the same card, while the stamina of Black Art (3.25) may be worth chancing in the feature race at Sedgefield given the liking he has shown for this track so far this year.
Euxton Lane (2.00) has attracted the money this morning for the opener at Newbury and should justify the punters’ faith, while connections’ decision to persevere with Khamry (6.15), a 500,000gns yearling who was a four-year-old by the time of his first start in November, should find at least some reward on the evening card at Kempton Park.
Lingfield Park 1.35 De Little Engine 2.10 Madrinho (nap) 2.40 Porto Ferro 3.15 Equally Fast 3.50 Noble Gift 4.20 Whispering Sands 4.55 Carp Kid
Sedgefield 1.45 One In A Row 2.20 Paper Roses 2.50 Frankie Ballou 3.25 Black Art (nb) 4.00 Lord Napier 4.30 Kings Eclipse 5.05 Turtle Cask
Newbury 2.00 Euxton Lane 2.30 Kincora Fort 3.05 Christmas In April 3.40 Somewhere To Be 4.10 Moabit 4.45 Alfstar
Kempton Park 5.45 Coverham 6.15 Khamry 6.45 Ripp Orf 7.15 Pak Choi 7.45 Georgian Bay 8.15 Take Two 8.45 Too Many Diamonds 9.15 Tommys Geal
