The hottest yard in Britain: in-form Crisfords boost remarkable strike-rate

Friday: Newcastle

Simon and Ed Crisford's red-hot form continued to sizzle with an across-the-card double started by Dukeman's impressive success in the mile novice.

The 500,000gns purchase got off the mark at the second attempt when scoring by a length and three-quarters under Jack Mitchell.

Two and a half hours later, the Crisfords struck at Haydock with Night Sparkle, their only other runner of the day, to take their strike-rate in the past fortnight to 55 per cent, with 16 winners from 29 runners.

Ed Crisford said: "Long may it continue. It's always great when you hit a purple patch and you've got to keep running them during it.

"We're very pleased Dukeman is off the mark and, while it was only a three-runner race, it's onwards and upwards. He was still a little green when asked the question and was babyish when he hit the front, but it's all a learning curve. He'll go forward from that."

First strike

Clifford Lee made his first ride for Harry and Roger Charlton a winning one with Batal Dubai's easy victory in the 6f novice for two-year-olds.

The 11-10 favourite scored by two and a half lengths to make up for his odds-on defeat at Salisbury in July.

Solar flair

Roger Varian is another trainer in fine form and he sent out Solar Orbiter for a striking debut victory in the 6f novice for three-year-olds and up.

The son of Showcasing won by three and three-quarter lengths to give the Newmarket trainer an across-the-card double following Revenite's victory in the 6f novice at Ascot.

Results, replays and analysis

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