Paul Nicholls - followed up Gold Cup win.

andreas another for nicholls

Paul Nicholls followed up his Gold Cup victory with Kauto Star when Andreas lifted the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase.

Partnered by Robert Thornton, who was also completing a double after his Triumph Hurdle success, the 12-1 shot picked up Hasty Prince (8-1) on the run-in and bounded up the hill to gain a three-length verdict.

Ground Ball (33-1) was another three lengths away in third, with Ursis (14-1) fourth.

A furious early pace was set by Greenhope and Pablo Du Charmil, with Ursis and Kahuna close up.

However, from three out Hasty Prince and Andreas had the race between them, with the former looking like giving Jonjo O'Neill and Tony McCoy another winner when he hit the front only for Andreas to prove too strong in the closing stages.

Nicholls said: "I've always thought he could win a decent race but he has been running on soft ground.

"He missed the second-last and normally he doesn't find anything but he's actually run on really well.

"I actually think he needs two and a half miles and a flat track. It was a brilliant ride."

Winning owner Trevor Hemmings said: "We've had a great week. "We were unlucky with Afsoun in the Champion Hurdle earlier in the week, Billyvoddan put in a great performance in the Ryanair and who knows what Turpin Green might have done in the Gold Cup if Idle Talk had not been under his feet.

"Thanks to Andreas I've got something to take back. It's been a lovely Festival. It has been a superb four days."