Hazy Tom, the rising star of Charlie Longsdon’s Chipping Norton stables, lost his unbeaten record at Ascot yesterday.

The winner of his first four starts under National Hunt Rules, the five-year-old was sent off the 10-11 favourite for the Grade 2 Mitie Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle.

But he could finish only third behind Molotof and Peckhamecho, beaten six and a quarter lengths.

Longsdon said: “As we feared, he struggled in the ground. It was only because he won at Wetherby last time that we tried him in the ground, but he started to paddle.

“He’ll have a break until the spring.”