It's been 69 days since Stormin Norman made a winning reappearance at Musselburgh, since then he has missed a couple of engagements because of ground conditions. The predicted going at Catterick on Tuesday is good to soft, a surface he has won on at Carlisle in August of last year.
Stormin Norman has proved to be very consistent, winning three of his last five starts, and being placed third in the other two.The trip of one mile, and six furlongs on Tuesday around a sharp track is not ideal, as he has shown his best form at two miles plus, but he is re-united with Becky Smith who has won on him twice at Market Rasen, and Carlisle.The race is an Amateur Riders Handicap, 0-80, to be run at 5.30.pm.
Good luck to the connections, The Monday Club.
STORMIN NORMAN 27 February 2015 Sir Percy-Roses-Gelding Owner-The Monday Club
Here at Oakwood Stables Stormin Norman will always hold a special place, as he is named after the late Norman Smith, father of our assistant trainer Gemma Hogg, and Becky Smith, Lady Flat Champion Amateur Jockey.
If Stormin Norman had only turned out to be moderate he would have still been held in high esteem, because of whom he represents, but the bonus is, he is a horse with lots of ability. Norman Smith always enjoyed a good night out, and would meet with friends, for a night of karaoke. After he passed away, several of his fellow singers clubbed together and bought, and named Stormin Norman in his honour.
He made an excellent debut in the bumper at Market Rasen in October 2018, running very green, and finishing strongly to only being beat by three lengths. His next two runs were also in juvenile bumpers, over one mile six furlongs, he found the trip far too short on both occasions, running on at the end when his chance had gone.
It was his return after his winter break on April 3rd, 2019, that 'The Monday Club' will always remember. Exactly one year to the day since Norman Smith was laid to rest, Stormin Norman got off the mark in the bumper at Market Rasen, with Norman's daughter Becky in the saddle. If this had been a story line in a film, you would probably think it was a bit far fetched.
With the flat season now in full flow, a debut over hurdles was put on hold, so Stormin Norman began a flat campaign at Wetherby in May. over mile, and two furlongs. He had two more runs over trips which proved to be on the short side, and now eligible for a handicap mark, went to Ripon, and got off the mark, off a very generous looking rating of 52, under Franny Norton. The way he saw out his race suggested that a further step up in trip should bring about even more improvement, and so it did, as three weeks later at Carlisle, on lady jockeys only evening, over two miles, he came home on the bridle, under Becky Smith. His last two runs of last season were both at Pontefract over the marathon trip of two miles, and one furlong, where he finished third on both occasions.
Stormin Norman is a consistent and willing partner, he is still lightly raced, so there should be much for The Monday Club to look forward to, but more importantly, he is a credit to the memory of Norman Smith.
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