GREAT Field produced a remarkable performance to stretch his unbeaten record over fences to three in the inaugural running of the Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase at Thurles.

Having made all at Gowran Park and Leopardstown, Jody McGarvey sent the 4/11 favourite straight into the lead again and he extended it to such a margin that he was almost a fence clear heading down the back for the final time.

He gave his supporters a big fright when making a howler at the second-last, but McGarvey sat tight and allowed Willie Mullins' exciting novice to coast home at his leisure, safely negotiating the last before beating Hurricane Ben by 32 lengths.

Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said: "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.

"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 at Fairyhouse could be a possible option. Obviously with the pace he shows, you wouldn't want to be going much further."

MULLINS TREBLE

Mullins was also on the mark with Open Eagle and Dicosimo.

Open Eagle made a successful reappearance in the Enjoy White Gypsy At Finns Borrisoleigh Hurdle. Off since finishing eighth in last year's Albert Bartlett, the Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old was an easy-to-back 7/1 chance but was allowed to dictate terms to suit himself.

He was pressured for the lead by Woods Well two out, but his flat speed is still there and he quickened away before the final flight, and got over it safely en route to a three-and-a-quarter-length defeat of Woods Well.

Winning jockey Ruby Walsh said: "It was definitely a pleasant surprise and I had intended in dropping him in and hunting around, but there was no pace so I said I'd go and do it from the other end. He showed a good turn of foot going to the second-last and kept going well enough to win.

"He was a high enough class horse on the flat and it's great he has won again. I'd imagine he'll go to Punchestown next and probably go chasing in May."

Dicosimo completed the Mullins treble with victory in the Devil's Bit Beginners Chase. The 6/4 favourite banished a Gowran Park spill to the memory with a commanding performance, and a bold jump at the last helped seal a two-and-three-quarter-length defeat of Inis Meain.

Walsh was in the saddle again, and said: "He had a good run behind Jessie's (Harrington) horse here a few runs ago and the step up in trip and better ground helped. He was running on fumes at the end but he won."

MOORE INJURED

Supreme Steel (7-1) and Fire On made their challenges together at the second-last in the Clonoulty Handicap Hurdle, but it was the former who found most and prevailed by a length and a quarter.

Jonathan Moore was taken by air ambulance to hospital after being injured when his mount Bench Marker was brought down at the last. He was later taken to hospital for further checks, leading to a short delay to the fifth race.

Dr Cormac Mehigan said: "Jonathan Moore has been taken away to hospital via helicopter and it appears he is to be sent to Limerick University Hospital. He has a pelvic injury which needs scans."

Big wins for Moore this season have featured Bigbadjohn in the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot and Irish Cavalier in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, both coming through his link-up with trainer Rebecca Curtis.

La Bella Vida broke through in emphatic fashion in the Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle. Taking it up at the fourth-last when leader Naturally Blond made a mistake, the Liz Doyle-trained 100/30 chance wound up the pace and strode away in the straight to beat Tikken Away by six lengths.

"Her hurdles form here was good but she was stuck in the mud the last day and he (JJ Slevin) said the ground is nearly yielding out there today," said Doyle. "With her hurdles form and getting all the allowances, she had to have a really good chance and he gave her a beautiful ride.

"We'll keep her going for the summer and see what mark she gets - there's a 2m2f handicap hurdle at the Galway Festival, which is something to aim at."

Katie Walsh drove home Peter Fahey's newcomer Coldamour (6/1) to take the Littleton (Pro/Am) Flat Race, while The Conker Club (16/1) registered her second course victory of the campaign in the Jimmy Neville Memorial Handicap Chase.

READ THE FULL THURLES REPORT IN NEXT WEEK'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD