Disagree, but I’m probably biased.
GF covered less ground in his first outing, than he would have done up Mullins’ gallop two days beforehand. There are outliers of course, but you either believe racing brings horses on, or you don’t, and I’m a believer. Impossible to determine how much value to place in it, and it will vary from horse to horse, but ‘match fitness’ is a real thing, imo, and I’d expect some degree of improvement from most horses, for want of a season-opener.
Great Field may now be exposed as not good enough for Footpad and (I assume you meant) Simply Ned, but that’s not the same thing as saying that his level is now established. His next run will likely tell us a lot more about the ceiling of his ability.
I repeat; nothing will beat Altior in the CC.