Simon Crisford tempers expectations after Knight makes striking debut

Sunday: Yarmouth

Joint-trainer Simon Crisford was determined not to get carried away after Knight launched his career in exciting fashion.

The son of Mehmas was one of several well-bred newcomers to tackle the 7f maiden and was too good for Irregular Warfare and the favourite Rajasthan.

Moving to the front two furlongs out in the hands of Cameron Noble, the 11-2 shot kept on strongly in the final furlong for an emphatic two-length success.

“He’s always looked a nice horse at home and I’m delighted he’s shown what he can on the course,” said Crisford, who trains the colt with his son Ed.

“He was green today and will improve but we just don’t know how good he might be at this stage. There were some highly rated horses in the race but none of them had run, so we’ve no way of knowing just yet how good the form is.”

Knight has an entry in the Vertem Futurity Stakes at Doncaster next month but Crisford is not considering that Group 1 contest at present.

He said: “You have to make early entries for the big races and I’m certainly not thinking about running him there. Let’s see how he gets on in his next race and we’ll take it from there."

Nursery revenge

Destiny’s Spirit had been beaten by Lumacho at Chepstow earlier this month but got the better of her rival on this occasion by a head in the 5f nursery.

“She’s a tough little filly and is getting stronger all the time but she does need to get her toe in,” said trainer Dominic Ffrench Davis.

Profitable weekend

Trainer Patrick Owens rounded off a profitable weekend when Almarin emerged an impressive winner of the mile novice, 24 hours after the stable collected €31,000 when Wahaaj finished sixth in the Goffs Million.

Results, replays and analysis

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