BRADPOLE owners John and Greer Norman were celebrating a fantastic triumph at Wincanton last week.

The Normans, who own a clutch of horses that are trained by Ron Hodges at Charlton Mackrell in Somerset, watched as Miss Midnight lost her maiden status in emphatic style in the Racing Post Hands and Heels' Jumps Series Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

In a dramatic race which contained a first hurdle casualty and a loose horse causing havoc the six-year-old joined Alan King's juvenile leader Sam Lord at the second from home and kicked on over the last to open up a three-length advantage by the line.

It was the bay mare's first victory in 17 attempts over hurdles and connections have wasted no time in finding her another race.

Miss Midnight is entered in today's Leath Jewellers and Valuers Challenge Trophy National Hunt' Mares Only Novices' Hurdle at Taunton (2.45pm).

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is set to saddle bumper recruit Taralina in the same race but the five-year-old has looked far from convincing in her three starts to date, despite finishing third twice and snatching second on debut.

Wiltshire handler King will look to get the better of Hodges this time with Takotna, who finished third on her first try over hurdles at Folkestone in October.

But the biggest threat to Miss Midnight is almost certainly going to come from Owlesbury Dream.

Brendan Powell's bumper winner proved a different class on her hurdle bow at Huntingdon earlier this month.

The ground was rated as good to firm on that day and, with the Taunton conditions set to suit, she is the one to beat.

The Norman's charge is no stranger to the firmer surface though. She ran all four of her bumpers on good to firm, placing on all occasions, and started her hurdling career with a second in the same conditions at Taunton.

Miss Midnight is a half sister to Goldbrook, a bay gelding also owned by the Normans and trained by Hodges.

Goldbrook has won four times under rules, once in a chase and three times over the smaller obstacles. He was at his best over hurdles and won two races under jockey Joe Tizzard, including a valuable handicap at Exeter in December 2003.

Tosawi, Ringagold and Marigolds Way are also owned by the Dorset duo and trained by Hodges.