Graham Wylie looking forward to seeing Nichols Canyon step back up in trip

Owner Graham Wylie is looking forward to seeing Nichols Canyon step back up in trip in next month’s Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle.

The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old struck gold over two and a half miles at both Aintree and Punchestown last spring, but after claiming a shock victory over stable companion Faugheen on his seasonal reappearance in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November, he has been campaigned with a tilt at the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in mind.

Another victory at Leopardstown over Christmas kept the show on the road and while he was no match for Faugheen in the Irish Champion Hurdle in January, he bounced back to his best to finish third behind another stablemate in the brilliant mare Annie Power at Prestbury Park a week ago.