Nichols Canyon digs deep for Ryanair Chase success

Following a dogged display in the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle on the final day of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, Champion Hurdle second-favourite Nichols Canyon drew comparisons with Hurricane Fly from his trainer, Willie Mullins, but much more remains to be done if the five-year-old is to emulate his revered former stable-companion.

In the absence of Arctic Fire, only four lined up behind the tape but the principal players jumped off in front and thereafter it never threatened to be anything more than a two-horse race. Tactically, however, it was anything but boring.

After a mistake at the first hurdle, Nichols Canyon conceded the advantage to Identity Thief and held that position until Walsh, evidently concerned the race would not be enough of a test, chose to up the tempo as they raced to the fifth-last hurdle, at the halfway point in the two-mile race.