Nichols Canyon - 2016 Champ Hurdle

With regards to the horses target I've no idea. Would make sense though if the plan wasn't to go chasing with him, which is more than likely given the horse came from the flat. If he stays hurdling you're strictly limited to 2 races and that's the Champion Hurdle and World Hurdle. Given the fact the one race in his hurdling career he hasn't delivered was the Neptune against Windsor Park over 2m5f, perhaps they don't intend on upping him in trip? Robbie Mac said before Cheltenham in a podcast I listened to, the exact tactics that would be used and that he would reverse form with Nichols Canyon - he was spot on. He also said in a podcast after Cheltenham that Windsor Park would likely be upped to 3m for the World Hurdle next year. If so, the 3m staying division looks pretty strong to me with potential runners such as Jezki, Windsor Park, Thistlecrack, Whisper, Cole Harden, More Of That (chasing on the agenda?), perhaps even the JP McManus owned Minella Rocco who is very highly thought of and have taken their time with (he could be one for next season). It's likely that they don't think Nichols Canyon would stay 3m and the better option would be to drop back to 2m in the Champion Hurdle where realistically the race is likely to again be a small field. He won the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse over 2m (albeit the rumoured Mullins aeroplane was sadly pulled up/fatally injured).

Can't see Nicholls Canyon having the pace for 2 miles. Seem to get better as the season progressed but surely won't have the pace to trouble Faugheen.

minella rocco goes novice chasing

Couldn't agree more with you Frankelampard regarding not having the pace to trouble Faugheen but perhaps it's their preferred option (assuming the money on here is  significant)

Thanks for that Fashion Fever, I must have missed that. I bet the horse at Aintree but was pulled out due to the ground and had heard nothing since. One to follow for sure.

Big fan of nicholls canyon. And Willie says very unlikely to go chasing and atm will be going down champion hurdle route. Bowling on from the front over 2 miles think he's huge ew value at 20/1.

Peace & Co is the danger in CH. Heard things saying that he has come back full of beans and much bigger than last year. Had there been good ground last year he would have won the Triumph by another 5 lengths. Another year of progression and he could be a massive force in the division. He obviously has to overcome the bad history of 5 year olds in the race and the haphazard techniques that Henderson seems to use to train his animals but he would be the only horse I'd be willing to touch at the current odds.

Only thing about peace and Co is although he has won in impressive fashion and you can only beat what's in front of you., what has he beat? Hargam didn't frank the form at Aintree and top notch hasn't beat much either.  For win purposes would be very hard to see him beating faugheen especially at a under a restrained ride like in the triumph

Almost a 2 miler on the flat, he will easily be picked off over 2 miles in a Champion Hurdle. 
He ran too keen in the Neptune but is surely more of a 3 miler than 2 miler.
Perhaps Cheltenham is not his track, he soon turned over that for at Aintree and thrashed Parlour Games.
Hand on heart he looks another 20f hurdler who is in no mans land come March.

Ruby would fe first to admit he got the ride wrong in the neptune trying  to restrain him over the further trip he was very keen. Back to more positive tactics I thought he was very impressive. I'm not saying he will win but a 4 time grade one winner at 20/1 I'd want him in my book ew. Will be interested to see how willy campaigns his CH  horses and whether faugheen goes the kept on route again and if the fly retires or arctic fire goes chasing although i think unlikely.. I can genuinely see nicholls canyon mopping up the Irish races on route to cheltenham.

Hargam reportedly lame after Aintree disappointment - was fairly big on him that day.

Money cueing up for nicholls canyon at 15.5 on here when 20s are available on oddschecker. Every time someone puts up 15 it's gone within minutes. Somebody obviously knows something

Definitely makes sense. Unlikely to go chasing, there's no middle distance hurdle race for him at this years festival and unlikely to stay the 3 miles in the World Hurdle. One things for sure if he does go the Champion Hurdle route, Faugheen won't be getting the run of the race like he did this year. He's still very much the one to beat and will be surprised if he doesn't retain his crown.

barring injury,looks a match between faugheen and peace and co.
Really don't think NC is at that level over 2m, and cannot see anything else anywhere near good enough.
Probably gonna ignore the CH ante post,unless at some stage I think PAC is value.

Ruby was always at pains to talk of his staying ability before Cheltenham last year, so I wouldn't be surprised if they stepped him up in trip this year (but to counter that, they probably knew he wouldn't beat Douvan in the Supreme).

Whether he drops back or steps up, there are a couple in both races that I'd fancy over him (Faugheen and P&C in the Champion, and Windsor Park and Jezki in the World), but could see him going into the WH as the stable number 1.

Nichols canyon now 4s in a place for the champion hurdle.

Glad I spotted that a while ago, sometimes it does pay to keep an eye on the market :)

Well done mate. Interesting comments by willie. Says "wicklow brave was fit as a flea for this and couldn't beat them first time up so hes had his chance and will be put away for the season. Also admits they got the tactics all wrong in the neptune and that there were no excuses for faugheen he just came up against a good horse."

Nichols Canyon appears friendless on the exchanges...

Noticed this myself over the last week or so! Not going out anywhere else so not sure what's going on? Certainly no rumbles or rumours about injury as can't see him running in anything but the champion think some just take a little drift now and again and as a backer I'm not really that worried right now

This definately one they are considering world hurdle

I really hope so, not just for my pocket, but I think it's his best chance of winning.

It sounds stupid since he's beaten the fav already and the Fighting Fifth winner over 2m, but he looked every inch a stayer against Identity Thief, who looked like he'd get past him.

I'd still say he is about 80/20 to run in the Champion though and they may think of stepping him up next year.

98% chance he runs in the champion,2% chance he gets injured.
NC is one of the best EW bets of the festival. And he's just that, exchange win only market he's drifted, who wants to back anything win in the race apart from faugheen??? i don't expect anything to beat faugheen, I think it's possible NC could do it, don't get me wrong, but anyone betting large sums will be on ew or in the place market. Banker to be placed. And if faugheen dosent have a clear round, NC will be close by to pick up he pieces.

Would be a crime if they ran it in the WH, but like Annie Power all over again. I hope  it runs in the Champion Hurdle & Vautour in the champion chase without ruby on either

Yup agree! It would be a crime to go world hurdle this season on what he has done. It would suit Walsh but not the owner

A few horses of recent times have suffered because of the talent in Mullins yard, for example Champagne Fever, Boston Bob, Felix Yonger up in trip, down in trip, second string, third string, forgotten about in favour of higher profile stablemate. Nichols Canyon could be another.

SYT I think in this case its not just a higher profile stablemate its quite a superior one. FY BB and CF all had their chances and won plenty also. BB has had every chance how would you suggest he should have been campaigned differently.

Boston Bob should have had more opportunities at 2.5 miles. They persisted with him at 3 miles for the sake of having a rep in a lot of those races. Also it's not just that. If Nichols Canyon was in another trainer's yard he would be the flag bearer for that yard. As it is, Faugheen is the flag bearer for Mullins and NC is the substitute if anything goes wrong. I'd well believe they are considering 3 miles with him but if it anything happens Faugheen, that plan goes out the window. These horses are somewhat of a victim of their own versatility....again wouldn't happen if they were in a lesser trainer's yard.

As discussed on another thread, Mullins doesn't too well with the slighlty below top class 8,9 yo chasers. I believe someone like Nichols could have gotten more out of Boston Bob, just like he did Tidal Bay.

Agree with SYT on this. Many occasions its more about having one in each race rather than the best race for the horse.

Ive mayby picked this up wrong and trust me im not trying to be smart but yesterday he had a 1-2 in england and over here and of the top of my head 123 in the Campion hurdle ive thought a few times why is he not running a particular horse in a race but on balance id say he does the best for the horses in his charge

The very good ones he does, but it is the slightly lesser ones who tend to get messed about it. If some of the second strings became first strings in other yards, things may be a lot different.

business sivola for me

Well chief Il be honest if i was getting into the owner game run id have the horse in a smaller yard expecting more attention whether that would be right who knows but thats what id do

Owners of UDS might well have celebrated a Churdle victory, possibly 2,had he been trained for the race or trained by someone else.

Owners of UDS might well have celebrated a Churdle victory, possibly 2,had he been trained for the race or trained by someone else.

Dont know the reason for not having a go for the CH with UDS mayby there is something quoted on this out there but Im to lazy to search , would be interesting to know as it didnt stop him running 3 last year. Myself i would have loved to have seen him in the CH youl never know now they decided the route to take youl never know now

Unless faugheen totally hammers nichols canyon in the Irish champion at the end of the month Mr whylie said it was all go for the champion in March! And mibee this year the owners all want there's to run when they have the chance and so they should! Even as a canyon fan if he beats faugheen again it still doesn't mean he is a cert in March and vice versa just means he was the best on the day! How many times do we see it that the form gets turned around and say how the hell did that happen lol I just hope he is given his chance to win the champion in March and the owner should stand his ground! And even for mullins surley it would be some ask to step him right up in trip for the world so near to the race?! I think we seen over Xmas if one of his champion challengers was going to step up it was going to be Artic Fire! So think we will see him have his chance this year as he has plenty years ahead of him to have a go at the world in future

Is Mullins really going to run all 3 of his CH contenders in the Irish Champion next week? What happens if Faugheen absolutely bolts up? Will he still run the others in a bid for a 123 or look for other targets? Loads of punters are banking on NC being a place cert, but if he takes a beating wont Wylie be tempted to look elsewhere? Surely Faugheen will skip the Irish race to leave the other two to slug it out? That keeps the dream alive for all the owners which surely would suit WPM. On another note, is AF fit enough to do himself justice? Thought he had a problem after that 3 miler the other day.

Yeah Artic fire scoped bad after the race and not sure how bad it was? And it won't be a surprise if one gives it a miss with a small fake injury! I think last year Ricci was a bit upset at not going for the Irish champion with faugheen due to hurricane fly running so I can't think he will be happy if he misses it again! But on the other hand Ricci is all about winners at Cheltenham and punchestown so you never know! And like you say he had the 123 last year and no reason why he can't again I think right now if any of the 3 where to give it a miss it would be artic fire and they keep him for the Aintree hurdle but good luck to us all guessing what mullins does lol tbh I think they will all run in it if they are fit.

Any news on Nichols Canyon looking doubtful for Champion Hurdle, re betting on here switch to World Hurdle maybe?

Still going champion hurdle and not heard anything whispers on going the world yet! Think the only way it will happen if ruby can talk the owner into it as he quite rightly wants to go champion! His last run wasn't his true running and to me still looks good to grab a place if he can't win as the rest bar the fav and artic fire and possibly theif look a poor bunch as peace and Co has been a major disappointment so think they will stick to the champion and get the stable 1-2-3 again.

Can't see Nicholas Canyon winning World and I reckon Millins will be attracted by getting 1-2-3 for second successive year in Champion.