Nordic Norm

The horse performs noticeably better at distances between just over a mile and a mile and a quarter. At those lengths, he wins roughly 1 in every 8 races, which is double his overall win rate. He's also more competitive in lower-tier races: in Class 4 company, he's won 1 of 7 starts, compared to just that solitary win across 14 overall. His recent form reads 5-10-9-2-5-4, and though he hasn't broken the duck since his Newcastle success nearly 19 months ago, he did place second just recently — a reminder that he remains capable of getting close.

Jonny Peate has become his regular pilot, though the partnership hasn't clicked into gear yet: five rides together have yielded nothing. Jenkins, however, is eyeing bigger targets. He's planning to run Nordic Norm in the Listed Burradon Stakes on Good Friday — a step up in class and occasion. The trainer has noted that the horse seems to be improving with racing and getting faster, which is why he's comfortable keeping him at a mile rather than stretching him out further. For a horse with Nordic Norm's record, that kind of confidence from the yard suggests they see something worth believing in, even if the win column hasn't filled up lately.