GRAND CANYON
Stayers’ title crowns Mullins ‘magic’ day
NICHOLS CANYON staged a Stayers’ Hurdle smash and grab to turn despair into triumph for Willie Mullins.
Top trainer at the meeting for five of the past six Festivals, Mullins had to suffer the frustration of 25 consecutive losers during the first two days of the meeting, including the shock Queen Mother Champion Chase defeat of 2-9 favourite Douvan.
But normal service was resumed as Nichols Canyon and Ruby Walsh arrived late on the scene to collar 33-1 outsider Lil Rockerfeller and capture the featured Stayers’ Hurdle as the third leg of a 179-1 four-timer for the pair.
“It’s absolutely magic!” said Mullins, winning the race for the first time. “I knew he would battle the whole way up the straight – and that’s what he did.”
Reflecting on his barren first two days, the trainer added: “There would be no fun winning in Cheltenham unless it was hard to win.
“The first two days were what they were. Douvan was disappointing, but apart from him we were beaten by better horses.” Yorkhill,
like Nichols Canyon carrying the colours of owner Graham Wylie, had launched the fightback when justifying 6-4 favouritism in the JLT Novices’ Chase.
Mullins had mulled over switching the talented but headstrong gelding for Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle after past winners Faugheen and Annie Power were ruled out.
But the 2018 Gold Cup is now on the seven-year-old’s agenda.
“I’ve no doubt he was a Champion Hurdle horse, Ruby has no doubt he’s a Gold Cup horse,” added the trainer, who today seeks a first victory in the Festival feature with Djakadam.
“Ruby’s won more Gold Cups than me, so perhaps I’d better listen to him!” Un De Sceaux beat Sub Lieutenant, running in the colours of race sponsor Michael O’Leary, to land the Ryanair Chase and give Mullins his 50th Festival success. O’Leary sensationally removed 60 horses from the all-conquering Closutton yard in September, but a measured Mullins said: “You can’t gloat over beating someone – they will come out in the next race and beat you. “He is an iron horse. He gives himself such a hard time at home – my heart is in my mouth every morning watching him on the gallops.” Let’s Dance wrapped up the foursome in the Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle for Douvan’s owner Rich Ricci (left). “The first winner was relief, the second was grand, the third was pure joy,” grinned Mullins. “Four is delirious!”