Irving stars for centurion Nicholls

Paul Nicholls scored his 100th Grade One success as Irving landed the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

Outsider Swaledale Lad set the early gallop while Nick Scholfield was content to settle in behind on Irving, letting the 6-4 favourite lob along a few lengths off the pace.

He made significant headway before the field straightened up as Aurore D'Estruval made her break for home, and always looked to have the move covered before pushing the button after the last to win by a length and three-quarters.

Willie Mullins' raider Arctic Fire gave chase all the way down the straight but never looked likely to reel in the front two before finishing in third spot.

Irving was atoning for his last-flight departure when looking a likely winner at Wincanton last time.

Nicholls said: "He can only get better. He's just got to sharpen his jumping up, he's just got to get slick and good, but I think there's a lot more to come from this horse. The faster they go, the better.

"It was a great ride from Nick and it's good to get him some good winners. We'll probably go for the Christmas Hurdle next and see where we are after that."

He added: " I'm very lucky to train 100 Grade One winners, but it reflects so well on Team Ditcheat."

Scholfield said: "He jumped immaculately, he never missed a hurdle. Paul has done some job considering he was on the floor three weeks ago. He had the noseband on for the first time and it's obviously done him no harm. The way he jumped today, he wouldn't be out of place in a Champion Hurdle."

Dan Downie, representing the winning owners Axom, said: "That's our second Grade One winner after Deano's Beeno in the Long Walk a long time ago (2002).

"It's a great credit to horse and trainer that after what happened at Wincanton, he can come out and do that.

"We will work back from Cheltenham now. We will have a look at the Christmas Hurdle as you would think Kempton would really suit. Wincanton for the Kingwell would then look the right time before Cheltenham."

John Quinn was delighted by the performance of Aurore D'Estruval over what he feels was probably too short a distance.

He said: "She's some mare. If she'd pinged the second-last, you never know what might have happened. She wants two and a half miles really already and there's a Listed race at Doncaster that we'll have a look at."