Paul Nicholls took the Grade 2 Ladbrokes.com Chase for the fourth year in succession as Kauto Stone made a victorious debut for his Manor Farm Stables under Paul Carberry (substituting for Noel Fehily who was fog bound at Bristol).

Nicholls also intended coming to Down Royal but he was stopped in his track like Fehily. He’ll have no doubt enjoyed his domination of the card at his local track in Wincanton and success at Sandown too though.

Here, in this two and a half miler, Kauto Star's half-brother, Kauto Stone, a French-import, led from before the fifth fence and he asserted from before the second last. He 'missed' the last but it mattered little as the chestnut easily accounted for Roi De Mee by six and a half lengths.

Carberry said: "He gave me a lovely ride. It was an exhibition of jumping. He got a bit tired from the last."

This was a noteworthy winner for the six time champion trainer Nicholls as it marked his 2,000th success between Britain and Ireland.

William Hill make Kauto Stone a 10/1 chance from 16s for the Paddy Power Chase at Cheltenham.

The same firm go 12/1 Kauto Stone for the Ryanair Chase at the Festival. (EM & MG)