Nichols Canyon (right) and Baily Cloud jump the final flight© Photo Healy Racing
Nichols Canyon justified prohibitive odds on his hurdling debut when readily taking the two-mile maiden hurdle at Cork.
Formerly trained by John Gosden and successful twice in Listed company on the flat last year to earn a rating of 111, the son of Authorized was sent off the 1/4 favourite.
Ruby Walsh eased him into a narrow lead before the final flight but Baily Cloud would not go down lightly.
The pair drew right away from the remainder of the field but Walsh only gently pushed out his mount to record a cosy length verdict.
There was a yawning gap of 17 lengths back to Just Get Cracking in third.
Winning trainer Willie Mullins said, “He was doing nice work at home but was quite keen and hit one a good clout early on. I’m hoping the experience will help him settle.”
Walsh said, “He was quite keen but that is often the way with horses coming off the Flat as they are used to going a faster clip. Hopefully he will learn from that.”
(TW &AM)
