led early, headed 1st, tracked leader, 2nd halfway, closer 3 out, pushed along and no impression on winner after next, ridden and kept on one pace run-in
ran freely early and led 1st, 3 lengths lead halfway, pressed after 3 out, asserted after next, pushed along and 6 lengths clear before last, stayed on well
chased leaders, mistake 1st, 4th halfway, pushed along after 2 out, ridden and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace
held up in rear, some progress after 2 out, pushed along to go moderate 3rd approaching last, no impression run-in, kept on one pace
ran 3rd, closer after 3 out, pushed along and no impression on winner after next, no extra and dropped to rear before last
NICHOLS CANYON has spent much of his career following stable companions Faugheen and Annie Power around but won this last year and showed his wellbeing with a facile victory over Jer's Girl and Ivanovich Gorbatov in last month's Morgiana at Punchestown. He's still only a six-year-old and looks at top of his game right now so should take this again. His former stablemate Petit Mouchoir looks the main threat as he's been narrowly beaten in three Grade 1s and was travelling easily when falling three out in the Flighting Fifth at Newcastle. The selection's stable companion Footpad was behind Ivanovich Gorbatov in the Triumph Hurdle but looks to have made the greater progress having won a Grade 1 at Auteuil in the summer.
Nichols Canyon 8-13fav (11-10) Made all, stretched clear from 2 out and kept on well run-in, easily, won at Punchestown 2m (1) sft in Nov beating Jer's Girl (11-0) by 12l, 5 ran.
Petit Mouchoir (FR) 4-1 (11-7) With leader, narrow lead when fell 3 out, at Newcastle 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Footpad (FR) (10-7) 2nd of 9, hd behind Capivari (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 3f sft in Nov.
Ivanovich Gorbatov (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Ran 6th, progress after 3 out and went 2nd next, ridden and no impression in 4th before last, no extra, 4th of 7, 8 3/4l behind Apple's Jade (10-13) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in Dec.
Jer's Girl (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leader in close 2nd, pushed along from 2 out and no impression from before last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 12l behind Nichols Canyon (11-10) at Punchestown 2m (1) sft in Nov.
