Nichols Canyon added another Grade One victory to his already impressive tally as the 8-13 favourite won back-to-back runnings of the StanJames.com Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.
It was a sixth consecutive win in the race for Willie Mullins, following on from Thousand Stars (2011) and Hurricane Fly (2012, 2013, 2014).
Ruby Walsh set out to make all on the now seven-time Grade One winner and while he had the filly Jer's Girl for company, she could not live with the Graham Wylie-owned six-year-old in the straight, going down by 12 lengths.
Last seen competing in America, Nichols Canyon only looked Mullins' third string at the beginning of the week.
Mullins had hoped to unleash one of his two Champion Hurdle winners, Faugheen and Annie Power, but the former was ruled out with a foot bruise and Annie Power worked unsatisfactorily.
"She (Jer's Girl) travelled really well with me and we went a good gallop the whole way," said Walsh.
"It was a Grade One run at Grade One pace and he got the better of her at the second-last and then it was all over.
"He had a very hard race at Leopardstown last Christmas against Identity Thief and that might have left a mark for the rest of the season, but he was very good today.
"He doesn't get the credit he should. He jumped to his right in American and at Aintree, but he was straight today."
Nichols Canyon added another Grade One victory to his already impressive tally as the 8-13 favourite won back-to-back runnings of the StanJames.com Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.
It was a sixth consecutive win in the race for Willie Mullins, following on from Thousand Stars (2011) and Hurricane Fly (2012, 2013, 2014).
Ruby Walsh set out to make all on the now seven-time Grade One winner and while he had the filly Jer's Girl for company, she could not live with the Graham Wylie-owned six-year-old in the straight, going down by 12 lengths.
Last seen competing in America, Nichols Canyon only looked Mullins' third string at the beginning of the week.
Mullins had hoped to unleash one of his two Champion Hurdle winners, Faugheen and Annie Power, but the former was ruled out with a foot bruise and Annie Power worked unsatisfactorily.
"She (Jer's Girl) travelled really well with me and we went a good gallop the whole way," said Walsh.
"It was a Grade One run at Grade One pace and he got the better of her at the second-last and then it was all over.
"He had a very hard race at Leopardstown last Christmas against Identity Thief and that might have left a mark for the rest of the season, but he was very good today.
"He doesn't get the credit he should. He jumped to his right in American and at Aintree, but he was straight today."
Identity Thief (2-5 favourite) maintained his unbeaten record over fences as he claimed the Ryans Cleaning Craddockstown Novice Chase for trainer Henry de Bromhead, who saddled the first three home.
A Grade One winner over hurdles, Identity Thief is one of the brightest prospects in the novice chase division and looked a natural on his fencing debut in October.
He did not have it all his own way on this occasion, though, with stablemate Ordinary World out-jumping the winner at several fences.
Not surprisingly, Identity Thief's superior speed on the flat was the difference after the last and Bryan Cooper did not have to get too serious.
After a flick of the whip, the Fighting Fifth winner skipped a length clear of Ordinary World, with Attribution running on nicely for third spot.
Cooper said: "He got the job done. The ground wouldn't be ideal and he'll be a better horse on better ground.
"To be fair, we went a proper gallop the whole way and he'll have learned a lot more than at Punchestown last time.
"He jumped with fluency. I would have won a lot easier if I'd asked him at the last but I went and popped it.
"That was a good education. We got a lead and I'm happy.”
A Toi Phil (3-1) came out best of the Gordon Elliott trio in the Florida Pearl Novice Chase.
Highly regarded by Willie Mullins last season, he was only an 8-1 chance in the Neptune at the Cheltenham Festival and scored on his chasing debut for Elliott at Down Royal.
He was one of three runners in the race for Gigginstown House Stud but Bryan Cooper chose to ride Noel Meade's Disko, who was let down by his jumping on this occasion.
Ruby Walsh benefited from Cooper making the wrong choice and having bided his time in the rear, as the runners emerged from the thick fog at the second-last he had jumped alongside Nambour at the head of affairs.
Once clear on jumping the last he powered away to win by seven lengths from stablemate Jetstream Jack.
Elliott said of his winner: "We had a one-two so we're happy. The horses ran well. You've seen as much as I've seen.
"When he got the gap going to the second-last he quickened through it and was gone.
"He won well. Ruby said he travelled and jumped well. The Drinmore will be the plan now, all being well.
"I'd say he just doesn't want bottomless heavy ground and Ruby said that's as soft as he'd want it.”
There was a heartwarming success in the Flynn & Lynch Life And Pensions Supporting Longford GAA Handicap Hurdle as Madeleine Tylicki, sister of jockey Freddy, who was left paralysed in the lower half of his body in a fall at Kempton, registered her first as a trainer with First To Boogie (6-4 favourite).
"It's my first winner and a very special one, obviously. It will put a smile on the family's face again, it's been a difficult time so I'm absolutely delighted," said Tylicki after her runner had obliged in the hands of Davy Russell.
"Today was the plan and it worked out. Luck was on our side and it was great for Freddy, it will put a smile on his face. He rang me straight away and he was absolutely delighted.
"The support and messages we've had since it happened, we're so grateful, it's very uplifting for Freddy, it's a tough time but he's a very determined young man and he's shown that in his career."
