Allez pulls up but Mullins still a winner

Allez Colombieres unfortunately pulled up wrong (later put down), going away from the stands, after only two hurdles in the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse. The valuable prize still went the way of the Willie Mullins team though as the Paul Townend-ridden Nichols Canyon added to the Closutton gains in the opener with Kalkir

The son of Authorized, a very useful performer on the level for John Gosden and victorious on his hurdling bow at Cork four weeks ago, threw a tremendous leap at the second last to take him to the front.

Andrea and Graham Wylie's charge had already put the race to bed and could afford to be ponderous at the last on his way to a five length dismissal of All Hell Let Loose

"His jumping has improved as he was untidy the last day. Paul said there was plenty left in the tank if anything came to him. He'll go the normal two-mile route and will probably run next at Leopardstown after Christmas," said Mullins.

Mullins' thoughts then turned to Allez Colombieres and he reported: "It doesn't seem to be a break and is possibly a pulled muscle or ligament or it could be a stress fracture. I'd imagine it will be a long break for him."

Meanwhile on the same owner’s (Susannah Ricci) Annie Power (an absentee from the Hatton’s Grade today) he said: "It appears to be above the hock and she will go to Troytown for scans so there will be no news until mid-week at least.

"It's possibly a stress fracture and she'll be looking at 8 to 10 weeks in her box."

In ante-post betting news Nichols Canyon is 16/1 (introduced) by Paddy Power and 14/1 (introduced) Boylesports for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Both firms have his stable companion Douvan as their 6/1 favourite (from 8/1). (AM & EM)