Paul Nicholls maintained his incredible stranglehold on the Grade 2 Powers Irish Whiskey Chase at Down Royal today, winning the race for the sixth successive occasion, with Rolling Aces providing jockey Nick Scholfield with a timely winner.

The nature of any novice event meant Nicholls had to find fresh ammunition each year for the race but had the rub of the green this year, as Rolling Aces was left in front by the final fence fall of challenging Argocat

The pair were upsides at both the second last and last and while Rolling Aces jumped the last well, Argocat got in close to the fence and fell, leaving Toner D'Oudairies to take second place.

Nicholls wasn't present for the win but Scholfield, recently appointed second-jockey at Nicholls' yard, stated “the pressure was on - I had to keep up the record for Mr Nicholls!

“He pricked his ears coming to two out but definitely accelerated coming into the last.”

“He was very well placed getting weight off some of the principals and he was a bit higher rated than them too. He is a lovely horse and is probably a three miler.

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Michael Graham.