A qualifier for the series final at the Cheltenham Festival. Quite what bearing this race will have on that all-important target is anyone's guess, but chances are the final will be staged on completely different ground to this. A good gallop ensued from the start here, resulting in the race being run almost six seconds faster than the previous Grade 2 novices' event.

OLASO never got involved among the pacesetters, but was given a patient ride by McCoy, who did not make a forward move until heads were turned for home. Gradually picking up ground, he was produced to lead half-way up the run in and then idled slightly in front. This was a solid display from a horse after more than three months off the track.

Fair Question ran a blinder off a 16lb higher mark than when winning at Ayr last time. Indeed, he may well have given the winner even more to think about had he settled better. As it was, he was tanking along up front throughout, which left him vulnerable late as he finally came to the end of his tether.

The first three finished comfortably ahead of the rest, headed by Jiver, who ran well after being hiked-up 8lb for his latest defeat.

Hidden Bounty ran respectably, but never threatened to take a hand.

Monolith was far from disgraced, coming back from a break. His running caught the eye of the stewards, who suspended his rider Gary Berridge for 14 days for breaching Rule 158, in that he had not taken reasonable and permissible measures to obtain the best possible placing.

The Reverend did not shape at all badly on his first outing for well over a year.

Drumbeater was well held under conditions which almost certainly proved too testing for him.

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