Paul Nicholls boosts sizzling summer strike-rate to 45 per cent as Centara seals a hat-trick in feature

Paul Nicholls expressed his delight with the form of his summer jumpers after Centara produced a gutsy performance to win the feature 2m½f handicap chase.

The seven-year-old defied a 10lb rise – despite breasting the fifth fence – when making all under Jay Tidball to win by a length and a half and complete a hat-trick.

"Winning three on the bounce isn't easy these days, we're thrilled," Nicholls said. "He made that mistake which didn't help and I think Jay thought he was further in front then he really was, but the second horse had to use plenty of petrol to get to him.

"It was a super ride. He used to be quite keen in his younger days but he relaxes nicely in front now and is a good, solid jumper."

Nicholls is eyeing up a bigger target for the gelding and said: "The idea is that he'll have five weeks off and then come back here on August 21 for a £25,000 2m½f chase."

The 14-time champion trainer has had 15 winners from 33 runners this season in a red-hot summer.

He added: "We've got a 45 per cent strike-rate from our summer jumpers, so we're dead happy. It's nice to have a few winners before October and hopefully we can keep that strike-rate up."

Dominant win

Howth took his record over hurdles to three wins from four starts with a runaway victory in the 2m1f handicap hurdle. Trained by Tom Lacey, the six-year-old pulled 17 lengths clear of Max Of Stars in second.

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