The Nightingale on song at Down Royal

Pandorama was withdrawn from the Ladbrokes.com Chase at the start on veterinary advice leaving the way open for The Nightingale to complete a Paul Nicholls/Ruby Walsh double, following on from Kauto Star thirty five minutes earlier.

Walsh in the famous Graham Roach silks on this occasion, was sitting comfortably on the son of Cadoudal up the straight and he stretched on from before the final fence to beat Roberto Goldback and Osana

The Nightingale showed a liking for softer conditions when winning the Pendil Novices Chase at Kempton back in February and the testing surface and right handed track here at Down Royal suited him well.

Nicholls commented: "The Nightingale doesn't mind going right or left handed as long as the ground is soft. He jumped better than he did at Aintree last time and we worked on that at home.

"It's brilliant to come over here and win two good races like that."

Among Nicholls' wins at home today were Meanus Dandy in the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton and Dolatulo at Sandown.

William Hill make The Nightingale a 10/1 chance for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.