No hassle for Hoff as he starts season on a clear winning note

The five-year-old No Hassle Hoff, who was in the top echelon of the staying novice hurdlers last season, got back to winning ways on his return to action when landing the £15,000 2m7½f handicap hurdle under Harry Skelton.

Sent off the even money favourite he came from off the pace to beat the dogged front-runner Oscarteea by a length and a quarter with the pair finishing clear of the remainder.

The winner, trained by Dan Skelton, runs in the colours of Jacky Allen and the trainer's assistant Tom Messenger said: "He had a good first season over hurdles being unlucky not to won a Grade 2. He also ran really well when he was fourth in a competitive handicap at Aintree on his last start when he perhaps just lacked the experience and it was also the end of the season for him. It's early days but a race like the Pertemps would be a possibility for him."