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Willie Mullins and Paul Townend enjoyed further Grade 1 success when Grangeclare West toyed with his rivals in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Friday.
The same trainer and jockey combination enjoyed top-level glory when Galopin Des Champs destroyed his rivals in the Savills Chase at the same track yesterday and Grangeclare West would ensure the Closutton team would earn further Grade 1 honours with a sparkling performance.
Cheveley Park's son of Presenting failed to land a blow on either of his starts at the highest level over hurdles but earmarked himself as a potentially smart prospect over fences with a smooth chasing debut success at Naas last month.
That victory prompted connections to jump the seven-year-old bay gelding straight up to Grade 1 company on his second start over fences, a decision that was clearly warranted after his accomplishment this afternoon.
He jumped and travelled kindly in the hands of Paul Townend for much of the three-mile and half-a-furlong contest and looked to be going best as the field turned for home. As was the case on Galopin Des Champs in yesterday's Savills Chase, Townend opted to bring his mount closest to the stands rail and the pair soon opened up a commanding advantage approaching the final fence.
A good jump at the last sealed proceedings as Grangeclare West, who was sent off a 4/1 chance, only had to be nudged out to score by six and a half lengths from the 13/8 favourite Corbett's Cross.
Dual Stayers' Hurdle hero Flooring Porter took the field along for much of the contest but faded in the closing stages to eventually finish a well-held third. Gordon Elliott's fancied runner Favori De Champdou, who beat Flooring Porter convincingly in the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown last time, disappointed back in fourth.
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 added: "He might go for the Brown Advisory and Fact To File (won at Leopardstown on Thursday) 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 with him."
Paddy Power were seemingly also impressed with the performance as they cut Grangeclare West to 4/1 favourite (from 14/1) to claim the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham in March.
Grangeclare West looked to be something of a second-string contender at the five-day stage with Klassical Dream also expected to take his place in the Grade 1 line-up. However, the classy staying novice chaser was not among the final declarations and Mullins revealed why.
He said: "Unfortunately, he is out for the season after his last bit of work. We will just let the injury settle down over Christmas, but it is very unfortunate."
