Royal summons for classy Allez Allez Colombieres, already a major fancy for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, makes his eagerly-awaited debut over jumps in the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday. The four-year-old, a three-times bumper winner in his native France when handled by Alain Couetil, is now with champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins. Allez Colombieres steps straight into a Grade One contest to see if he can justify early support for the Supreme, for which he is a best-priced 10-1 joint-favourite. "He has shown good form in France and has done everything we've asked of him at home," said Mullins' son, Patrick. "It's a big ask making his debut in a Grade One, but we think he might be up to it. He could run a really nice race and finish second or third." Jockey Ruby Walsh also has high hopes of a big run. He told the Irish Examiner: "He has been a big talking horse for a while now. He won three bumpers in France, but this is a big ask, considering Allez has yet to jump a flight in public. "He is doing everything right at home, however, and has a real touch of class. I expect him to travel beautifully through the contest and fully expect to be bang in contention heading to the last. "After that we shall see, but this is going to reveal an awful lot about him." The Mullins team are also represented by Nichols Canyon. A dual Listed scorer on the Flat, when trained by John Gosden, he made a successful jumps debut at Cork four weeks ago. "Nichols Canyon was high-class on the Flat, I think he's the highest rated Flat horse we've ever had in the yard," said Mullins jnr. "He was a bit keen on his debut at Cork which was why he didn't jump great early on, not as slick as he could be. "You'd hope they'd go a nice gallop and that will help him settle better, you couldn't describe him as a second-string, really." Owner JP McManus is also double-handed with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Draco, the mount of Tony McCoy, and Princely Conn, from Tom Mullins' stable. "They are both in good form and their trainers are happy with them," said McManus' racing manager Frank Berry. "It looks a good race. We'll learn a bit more about them and see if they are up to that class. "Draco had a good summer. He did well and the good ground suited him."
