Nichols Canyon and Shaneshill from the Willie Mullins stable will line up this evening against an American contingent headed by two-time winner Demonstrative for the richest-ever running of the Calvin Houghland Iroquois at Nashville’s Percy Warner Park (10.30pm).

The $200,000 Iroquois, the richest race on the National Steeplechase Association’s spring racing schedule, carries new significance this year as the kick-off contest for the 2016-2017 edition of the Brown Advisory Cheltenham-Iroquois Challenge which offers a $500,000 bonus to any horse that wins the Calvin Houghland Iroquois and the Ryanair World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival within a 12-month period.

Nichols Canyon and Shaneshill are by far the classiest runners in the Iroquois Hurdle but the long season, long journey over and the three mile trip are their biggest dangers. Shaneshill might be the strongest stayer but looked tired when he fell at Punchestown.

Rawnaq, a very useful performer for Matthew Smith here looks the most likely of the home team. Now trained by Cyril Murphy for Irv Naylor, the current leading combonation in US jump racing. Demonstrative is a former champion jumps horse in the US while Scorpiancer is another former Irish campaigned runner.

BELMONT

Cavorting, a Grade 1 winning daughter of Bernardini last year for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is the likely favourite for the Grade 2 Ruffian Handicap at Belmont after a second place on her four-year-old return last month at Aqueduct.

The Grade 1 Man O’War Stakes on turf looks a weak renewal and Kaigun may take the opportunity to score at the highest level.

Mark Casse’s six-year-old is consistent at graded level.

Can’thelpbelieving is an Irish-bred son of Duke Of Marmalade trained by Graham Motion who also runs former Canadian champion Up With The Birds while Chad Brown runs three - Morandi, Money Multiplier and Wake Forest.