Only seven runners contested this Prestige Steeplechase event over 5500m and the movement from Trentham and a figure-eight testing circuit to Hastings and a less roomy one directional test made a massive difference. The winner was the rising 13yo Amanood Lad and gave the local trainer Paul Nelson the feature jumps double with a pair of old leapers he has only taken over this year. In fact he has had racing out of this stable Amanood Lad only since June and the Prestige Hurdle winner earlier in the day The Shacklers since May. Amanood Lad had not won a race since the first of June in 2015 so too salute today after racing fourth or fifth then moving into third 1000m out says more about the rest then him. He pierced between runners to take the lead near the home turn and fought on best to score by two and a half lengths in 8:06.13. Wise Men Say ran home gamely with his second wind from fifth a lap from home as the rising 8yo moved into fourth down the backstraight then hit a flat spot being in that position until even the final 100m. He got going well the final 50m. Nells Belle was a monumental third and surely would have won the race but for such an overland path throughout on the pace. The mare was on the pace but very wide and covering excessive extra ground at many stages of the race that took over three laps to complete. She was beaten four lengths and would have covered more than that extra in a single lap. The Oysterman has placed in this race the last two years but his asset of stamina on a testing bog at Trentham was nullified when the race got moved here. He raced on the pace throughout but was headed near the home turn though did whack away for fourth in his usual brave fashion. Fair Script was a battling fifth and the only other two runners in Mr Mor and Just Ishi were well beaten. Mr Mor, a rising 13yo settled back and never got into contention to be beaten over twenty lengths. Just Ishi the odds on favourite was dreadful after settling back plus the rising 10yo never travelled well at any stage. He was pulled up without clearing the final fence. Once again the depth was dubious in this feature jumping event and the old horses are showing up the few younger brigade coming through. The Prestige Hurdle and Steeplechase today were won by local stablemates that are a rising 11yo and a rising 13yo.