Ted Walsh thinks that Bryan Cooper should have 'taken the snot off' Rugby Walsh this afternoon.
The trainer was speaking just moments after Nichols Canyon, piloted by his son, won a stirring Ryanair Hurdle to close the Grade One action at Leopardstown.
Cooper on board Identity Thief for Gigginstown, looked to have stolen a march on the 2/5 on favourite but Walsh had more in the tank heading for the line and won by a crucial few lengths.
With just four horses in the running it was always going to come down to who could challenge the Willie Mullins mount, with the Henry de Bromhead chaser laying down a serious marker for the springtime despite the loss
https://twitter.com/AtTheRaces/status/681846099854798848
The first Grade One of the day was taken by No More Heroes who stormed home to win the Neville Hotels Novice Chase.
The Gordon Elliott mount never looked in bother during the race with the day ending with an unbeaten record over fences still very much in tact.
Bryan Copper needed to just keep his mount upright to take the victory from second place Rule the World.
https://twitter.com/AtTheRaces/status/681838096267124737
https://twitter.com/LeopardstownRC/status/681841230825820160
