Leading woman trainer Mary Reveley gave the bookmakers an early Christmas present when she sent out 66 to 1 shot Noble Norman to spring a surprise at Newcastle yesterday.

The six-year-old, unplaced in his three previous outings, had little to recommend him - even though Mrs Reveley's number one jockey Peter Niven was aboard him rather than stablemate Tom's River.

But the former pointer belied his odds with a battling performance in the Polyfloor and Newcastle Flooring Novices' Hurdle.

Ironically, it was Tom's River that pushed him all the way to the line, forcing Niven to pull out all the stops to ensure a neck verdict.

Hopeful Lord (8 to 13) never gave his supporters much hope. He jumped stickily and trailed in a well-beaten fourth.

Howard Johnson's concern over the health of his horses was forgotten as Double Agent, with the powerful assistance of Paul Carberry, got up near the line to pip Great Easeby a neck in the Glendee Engineering Handicap Hurdle.