Grangeclare West and Paul Townend win the Neville Hotels Novice Steeplechase Grade 1 Healy Racing © Photo Healy Racing
Grangeclare West leapt to the forefront of antepost lists for the Cheltenham Festival when putting up a hugely impressive performance to win the first Grade 1 of his career in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
Having won his point-to-point, bumper and maiden hurdle in his first three starts, the son of Presenting looked a very exciting prospect for owners Cheveley Park Stud.
However, following two relatively disappointing runs in Grade 1 novice hurdles early this year, the seven-year-old appeared somewhat exposed at the highest level. Despite that, trainer Willie Mullins remained adamant that the horse just wasn't right at that time.
A late season win at the Punchestown festival went some way towards vindicating that theory but even after a very encouraging chasing debut at Naas last month, the gelding still had it all to prove returning to Grade 1 company this afternoon.
Not only did Grangeclare West silence the doubters, he did so with a devastating performance that saw him brush aside a field of high class opponents.
Always travelling easily under Paul Townend, the eventual winner loomed up to head leader Flooring Porter on the run to the final fence. Quickly moving a couple of lengths clear after jumping that obstacle, he strode right away to land a competitive renewal of this contest by six lengths.
Willie Mullins said: "I didn't expect that now - I thought he would run well, but that was a top race.
"Paul was worried about him pulling too hard and he'd want to be as fit as he is because he just pulled his arms out for the three miles. To do that, on that ground, and win like that going away was a huge performance.
"His jumping was excellent. He just came out of Paul's hands at the first fence and from then on Paul was just trying to settle him back. He got him back jumping normally.
"He's just a natural chaser.
"He might go for the Brown Advisory and Fact To File might go for the Turners. We'll see, it is a nice problem to have.
"We might come back here to the Dublin Racing Festival first. I'm delighted to win a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas."
Paddy Powers went 4/1f(from 14/1) Grangeclare West for the Brown Advisory Novices Chase.
Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
