Nichols Canyon retains his Morgiana crown

Willie Mullins continued his domination of Punchestown's Grade One Morgiana Hurdle as Nichols Canyon hacked up with Ruby Walsh doing the steering.

The champion trainer landed it for the sixth time in a row with Nichols Canyon repeating his victory from 12 months ago.

The 8/13 favourite was pressed throughout by Jer's Girl who was making her seasonal reappearance.

However, when they came back into view from the foggy conditions, Nichols Canyon had drawn clear from his challenger before the final flight.

He jumped that obstacle and cruised in by 12 lengths from Jer's Girl (3/1).

Willie Mullins said: “I’m very pleased. He had to come in as a sub but he did it nicely. At least he was wanted this year!

“Ruby said they went a very good gallop the whole way and his stamina just won out.

“Jer’s Girl decided to take him on early and he just kept galloping with her and he just outstayed her.

“He’s just got lots of stamina and once it became a test of stamina the conditions suited him more than any other horse in the race.

“This wasn’t part of the plan. It was just the way things worked out so I’m not sure where I’m going to go next with him.

“At least we know he’s not too bad at that trip. He jumps fantastically and he goes a very very good gallop over two miles so he’s competitive at it.

“I’d imagine we will be stepping up. That was part of the plan anyway. I just haven’t got a race picked out for him yet. I’d imagine it’ll be Christmas.

“He was very exuberant today. He’s very brave and I was hoping that his jumping wasn’t going to take too much out of him but he put the other horses under pressure with his jumping.”

Ruby Walsh, fresh from his second win on the card, added: "I managed to ride the right one this year! [beaten on Faugheen last year].

"We went a good, good gallop the whole way. They both jumped well and we were stepping on it, it was a Grade One and it was run at that kind of pace.

"He just seemed to get the better of her (Jer's Girl) away from the second last and it was all over then.

"He jumped to his right in America for some reason and in Aintree as well but today he was good and straight and won well."

Nichols Canyon was last seen finishing third in a Grade One at Percy Warner Park, Nashville, America, in May.

This victory gave him his seventh at Grade One level.

Paddy Power cut Nichols Canyon from 8/1 to 6/1 for the World Hurdle and from 33/1 to 20/1 for the Champion Hurdle.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson