Great Field heading back to Punchestown after extending chasing record

Great Field made light work of his first start since winning a Grade 1 novice chase at last year's Punchestown festival when the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old burst clear of his rivals without coming off the bridle in the Grade 2 Toals.com Bookmakers Webster Cup Chase at Navan to win with more authority than the official margin.

Gordon Elliott's ten-year-old Doctor Phoenix, who joined the yard over the summer and has progressed from a mark of 137 to winning a Grade 3 by 13 lengths last time out, made late headway under Davy Russell, but he never looked like catching his younger rival who turned in well clear and was not even shaken up by Jody McGarvey until after the last.

"His jumping was much better today - there were no heartstopping moments," said Mullins. "He also seemed more relaxed before and during the race. It was a very good performance to do what he did after such a long absence and in that heavy ground. The Grade 1 two mile-chase at Punchestown would look the obvious race for him."

Great Field is now five from five over fences, with this length and three-quarter success over his fellow 11-8 joint favourite the least authoritative in terms of lengths come the line, but the manner in which it was delivered was emphatic.

McGarvey, who has only recently returned to action after fracturing his T8 vertebra in a fall in September, bounded off in front on the relentless front-runner and never saw another rival until after the last, when he was alive to Doctor Phoenix's late charge and kept him held.

Doctor Phoenix jumped the second-last a clear fourth but galloped on to pass Alisier D'Irlande and Tell Us More, finishing 18 lengths clear of the third.

Queen Mother Champion Chase sponsors Betway make Great Field a 20-1 shot for the race next March.

Gordon Elliott lifts the leading festival trainer trophyCredit: Patrick McCann

Also on Friday

Magic man Elliott at it again as gutsy Cartwright digs deep

Gordon Elliott can do no wrong at the moment and the Meath man saddled a tenth winner since retaining his crown as top trainer at last week's Cheltenham Festival when the gutsy Cartwright saw off Articulum in a thrilling finish to the Listed Irish Racing Writers Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle at Navan on Friday.

Articulum might have dwarfed Jack Kennedy's mount but the Reddytorun Syndicate-owned five-year-old was all heart as he saw off his Terrence O'Brien-trained elder to land odds of 5-1.

The Willie Mullins-trained Nessun Dorma stayed on for third at 11-2 after looming menacingly approaching two out, but the front two handled the testing conditions better and pulled clear. The favourite Draconien shipped David Mullins early in proceedings as the field passed the stands for the first time.

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