Nicholls - struck with Sleeping Night.

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Paul Nicholls gained some compensation for the defeat of Strong Flow in the Gold Cup when Sleeping Night took the Christie's Foxhunter Chase.

The 7-2 favourite, ridden with aplomb by Colman Sweeney, took up the running two out and held Foly Pleasant by three-quarters of a length, with Placid Man another 11 lengths away in third.

The Wipper set the pace and was still in with a shout when he fell at the fourth-last, leaving Lord Atterbury in front.

But Lord Atterbury paid for his inadequate jumping as he had nothing left when the first three powered past him in the closing stages.

Sweeney said: "Since I've been kid I've been dreaming of this moment - it's unbelievable."

Nicholls said: "It is a long-term plan that has come off. He has had loads of problems and it's taken six months' work to qualify for this. It's just the job.

"His jumping can suffer at times as he has impaired vision and can hardly see.

"He is in the Scottish National and that is a possibility, but I may just call it a day with him for this season. Whatever happens though, he needs to go left-handed, and the Hennessy next season could be a possibility."