Nichols Canyon and Ruby Walsh jump the last© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins added a second Grade 1 win at Leopardstown today when his Nichols Canyon landed the top level Deloitte Novice Hurdle, making all to win under Ruby Walsh.
In the news and soon to be retiring jockey Tony McCoy was on board Mullins' heavily backed 11/10 favourite Alvisio Ville for his employer J.P. McManus, but that gelding failed to quicken as well as Nichols Canyon in the home straight.
Nichols Canyon maintained his gallop to eventually beat the staying on Windsor Park by three and a half lengths with Alvisio Ville, which had been supported during the week for the March's Supreme Novices Hurdle, well held in third.
Regarding his winner, Mullins stated "he did what he does on the Flat - stays. He jumped and stayed and he's improving all the time.
"I thought he mightn't beat the grey horse (Alvisio Ville) but I'd say the grey horse lacked experience and beat himself: remember the winner is a professional racehorse.
"The way he jumped I wouldn't be afraid to go back to two miles. He was gaining half a length or a length at his hurdles there and they were no slouches in behind.
"He did it the hard way from the front and that's the way you could win at Cheltenham."
"He's in the three races (novices at Cheltenham) and I imagine he would be a Neptune type but I wouldn't rule out the Supreme. It'll depend on what way the ball bounces with other horses as we have plenty of horses for the Albert Bartlett."
Paddy Power Bookmakers subsequently cut Nichols Canyon to 8/1 (from 16s) for the Supreme Novice Hurdle and to 6/1 (from 16s) for the Neptune Novices Hurdle, both at the Cheltenham Festival.
Regarding the mildly disappointing effort of Alvisio Ville, he added "he'll learn an awful lot from that. He was very keen and we'll maybe change a couple of things for his next run.
"You might get away with running a maiden hurdle winner in a Grade 1 in the Autumn but he's facing handicappers there.
"He's probably a chaser in the making and has a lot to learn about racing. Tony said we could bring him back to two miles as he was too keen but I'd probably rather go out in trip and change tactics."
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson
