Gifford has grounds for running Bear again

Straw Bear, a close second in last Tuesday’s Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, could run at both Aintree and Punchestown “ground permitting” before he has a summer break.

Nick Gifford’s five-year-old looked all over the winner but lost valuable momentum at the final flight and was beaten only a neck by Noland in the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival.