Normarange is the value option in today's £10,000-added Tote Chase (Showcase Handicap) at Wincanton. The nine-year-old proved a progressive sort for Gardie Grissell and won two of just three starts last season, culminating in a half-length defeat of Dubelle at Windsor in November.
He subsequently joined Pat Rodford - who trains near Wincanton - and was having his first run since when contesting a three mile handicap at Taunton last week.
Normarange took command briefly from four out to approaching three out but his long absence began to tell and he weakened to finish around 10 lengths fourth of 16 behind Raffles Rooster.
Normarange should strip a lot fitter today and is dropped back to his optimum trip of two miles five furlongs.
Double Thriller can complete his Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup preparation by winning the £20,000-added Jim Ford Challenge Cup Chase, a race which has cut up very disappointingly.
The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old was the last horse to beat leading Gold Cup fancy Teeton Mill when triumphing in a Cheltenham hunter chase last April.
But Teeton Mill has come an awful long way since then and Double Thriller has yet to prove he is championship class - indeed, he was beaten in another hunter chase following his Cheltenham victory.
But on his reappearance - in a handicap chase over this course and distance - Double Thriller did all that could be asked of him.
Taking the lead before halfway, Double Thriller cruised clear to beat Malwood Castle by a distance.
Today he will be sent off at a very short price and this really ought to be a question of "how far?".
The £32,500 Axminster 100 Kingwell Hurdle is quite a tricky contest to call and Grey Shot gets the nod.
Ian Balding's seven-year-old, a smart stayer on the Flat, surprisingly disappointed when tried over two miles and five furlongs at Cheltenham last time, but earlier ran Relkeel to half a length in the Bonusprint Bula Hurdle at the same course.
Wilmott's Fancy can continue her progress in the £15,000-added Dick Reynolds Auction Novices' Hurdle. Venetia Williams' mare has treated her rivals with contempt at Plumpton and Hereford and gets in here with a nice low weight because she was bought for less than 5,000 guineas at auction.
Surprise Gunner, who showed dramatic improvement to score easily at Folkestone last week, can follow up in the Sawtry Fen Novices' Handicap Hurdle.
Tony McCoy returns to the saddle at Wincanton after sitting out yesterday's programme with a bruised right leg.
The three-time champion was taken to Hereford General Hospital for X-rays after taking a fall from Martin Pipe's Northern Drums in the Ron Traylor Plumbing Novices' Chase at Ludlow.
Continued opposition to Bionic, the winter favourite for the 1,000 Guineas, has resulted in William Hill pushing Henry Cecil's filly out to 9 to 1 from 6 to 1 for the first fillies' Classic.
The daughter of Zafonic's preparation for the 1,000 Guineas has been held up by a corn on one of her feet, with the Warren Place trainer hoping she will be resume cantering next week.
Yesterday Bionic was made Hill's 6 to 1 favourite after the death of their 4 to 1 market leader Bint Allayl was reported.
But in the face of support to several of her rivals, Bionic has been usurped at the head of the betting by Criquette Head's Moiava.
