Nichols Canyon resists Identity Thief to put down a Cheltenham marker

Bryan Cooper coaxed a great leap out of Identity Thief, which appeared to seal victory, but Ruby Walsh threw everything he had at Nichols Canyon

Nichols Canyon and Ruby Walsh (right) jump the first hurdle (Rex)

Nichols Canyon showed the battling qualities of his former stablemate Hurricane Fly to win yesterday’s Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The now retired Hurricane Fly won four of the previous five renewals of this race but for much of the home straight Nichols Canyon looked like coming off second best as Henry de Bromhead’s Identity Thief cruised into the lead before the final flight.

Bryan Cooper coaxed a great leap out of Identity Thief, which appeared to seal victory, but Ruby Walsh threw everything he had at Nichols Canyon. The Willie Mullins-trained 2-5 favourite began to reduce the gap and eventually gained the upper hand, going away by two lengths to record a sixth Grade One win from just nine starts over hurdles.

The winning owner Graham Wylie said: “That was tough to watch, but he’s a tough horse. I’m not sure if he’ll run before Cheltenham – I’ll have to speak to Willie – but it’s great to have a live Champion Hurdle horse and hopefully he’ll get there.”

Mullins said: “His battling qualities and his hurdling qualities remind me of Hurricane Fly – and the size of him. He probably hasn’t the zip of Hurricane Fly but he has his stamina and aggressiveness.

“It’s going to take him a long time to get over that now – and that’s my worry if we’re looking at the Irish Champion Hurdle,” he added. “But he’s got huge reserves, I’m delighted with him.”

Walsh said of Nichols Canyon’s victory: “He’s done everything we’ve asked of him and he’s going forward and improving.”

De Bromhead said of his challenger: “I felt the ground was playing to Nichols Canyon’s favour more than ours, so I’m delighted. He’ll go down the Champion Hurdle route – I was thinking just that after he won at Down Royal.”