FREEZING conditions put the meeting at Haydock Park in doubt last Saturday. However, after two morning inspections, racing was given the all clear to go ahead and successfully round off the current national hunt fixtures at the course.

Racing began with a win for trainer Martin Pipe in the Garswood Handicap Steeplechase. Jockey Tom Scudamore made steady headway on 10-1 shot Upgrade.

At the final bend, three horses were abreast with Golden Alpha taking a slight advantage before Upgrade went clear on the run-in to score by two-and-a-half lengths.

Artic Jack and Jurancon II set the pace in the feature event, the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup Steeplechase, ensuring the three-mile four-and-a-half-furlong trip was a true stamina test and quickly had the remainder of their field some 20 lengths adrift.

Three fences from home, Artic Jack lost his place and the Martin Pipe-trained Jurancon II, sent off at 10-1, galloped clear, making the most of his five-pound allowance, to score a 15-length victory over Bear On Board, who stayed on at one pace.

The field proceeded in single file, led by Young Collier, in the Red Square Vodka Prestige Novices' Hurdle Race for the first circuit. They bunched together coming into the home straight with Fundamentalist challenging 9-4 chance Royal Rosa, who maintained a half-length advantage at the winning post. Trainer Howard Johnson said: 'He's a proper tiger and didn't hang today. He won't run at Cheltenham and will only have one more run this season, maybe Aintree if it comes up soft.'

The two-and-a-half-mile Thyson Technology 10th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle resulted in a win for 4-1 joint favourite Paper-prophet, ridden by Brian Harding and trained by Nicky Richards. Claymore was three quarters of a length behind in second place.

Trainer Sue Smith gained compensation for Artic Jack in the Rectangle Group Novices' Handicap Chase when Black Frost, at 6-1, stayed on resolutely when taking the lead three fences out. Burundi staged a late rally, overtaking Doe Nal Rua to finish oneand-a-half lengths away in second.

Tanners Court pulled hard in the Red Square Vodka 'Fixed Brush' Novices' Hurdle Final Bonus Race and led the field a fair pace throughout the first circuit of the race. Le Royal and Lord Dundaniel challenged the leader in the closing stages and Tanners Court fought back but could only finish second, three quarters of a length behind 7-1 chance Lord Dundaniel.

The 3-1 chance Lord Gale dictated the pace before recording a two-and-a-half-length victory over Tigers Lair in the two-mile Castle Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race, bringing the meeting to a close.