News Willie Mullins has American dream for Nichols Canyon and Shaneshill

Willie Mullins has American dream for Nichols Canyon and Shaneshill

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Willie Mullins is considering sending Nichols Canyon and Shaneshill to America for the Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle at Iroquois racecourse in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 14.

The race is part of the Brown Advisory Iroquois Cheltenham Challenge which involves the Ryanair World Hurdle and the Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle.

If any horse can win the two Grade Ones within 12 months, connections would earn a $500,000 bonus. Both races are run over three miles.

Ten entries for the American race have been revealed, with two from Mullins' yard.

"I have Nichols Canyon and Shaneshill both nominated for the Houghland Iroquois Hurdle Stakes," he said.

"I am not familiar yet with what else is in the race and there a few other things I have to check out, but both horses are well and could potentially go out to the USA.

"At the moment, probably Nichols Canyon is the horse we would hope to get out there, if not the two of them.

"I think we need to internationalise jumps racing and so I am happy to support the Brown Advisory Iroquois Cheltenham Challenge."

While America remains unconquered by Mullins to date, he has won the Grand Nakayama Jump with Blackstairmountain in 2013.

Mullins' father Paddy won the Dueling Grounds International Hurdle in Kentucky with Grabel in 1990.