Great Field and Barry Geraghty© Photo Healy Racing
Great Field twice a winner in France, made a successful start for J P McManus and Willie Mullins when taking the Foxrock Cup Hurdle at Leopardstown under Barry Geraghty.
Five to two favourite Great Field tracked the leaders on the outer and he pulled hard.
The son of Great Pretender made headway to lead at the fourth, he wasn't fluent two out, but he stayed on strongly from the last for an easy four and a half length win over Draco (another McManus runner).
"He looked like a nice recruit to us. We couldn't get him out earlier as he had a setback or two," said Mullins.
"He's entered in the handicaps at Cheltenham and we'll see what he gets in to.
"I wasn't sure if he was going to run here but he worked well during the week and we said we'd take our chance.
"He was very keen and that wouldn't be good going to Cheltenham but they will be going a bit faster over there.
"He's really a chaser as he's a fine big strong horse. I thought he jumped fantastically and he's a horse for the future I think."
(GC & EM)
