8th-Feb-2015

The market is dominated by Alvisio Ville, and if he is as good as the weight of money that backed him for the Neptune Hurdle during the week suggests he is, then he will probably win this. However, we have yet to see evidence of his ability on the track, and he is very short …

There is far more substance to Nichols Canyon than there is to Alvisio Ville. A dual listed winner on the flat for John Gosden and rated 111, he got off the mark at his first attempt over hurdles at Cork in November, and he followed up by winning the Grade 1 Royal Bond Hurdle at Fairyhouse. His task there was made easier by the fatal injury that his stable companion Allez Colombieres regrettably suffered in that race, and it may not have been a vintage renewal of the Royal Bond in the end, but you can only ever beat what they put in front of you, and he beat the others well.

He did unseat his rider in the Future Champions Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, but that was a blip, he had jumped the first two flights well and he just seemed to lose concentration. He is a classy individual and Ruby Walsh has chosen to ride him in front of his other two stable companions.

NICHOLS CANYON WON (ADV 11/2, SP 9/2)