Quick guess: enable trace flag 4139. You are already running [SP2-CU1][1] so this should work Note the guidelines about TF 2389 ad 2390 too and also see http://sql-sasquatch.blogspot.com.mt/2013/06/mssql-plan-guides-to-address-ascending.html (Note, I've not really hit this problem and have not dived in that deep) [1]: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2952101