'When you win like that you can dream through the winter' - Ralph Beckett juvenile runs out a ready winner

Owners Highclere Racing have a lot to smile about as of late and they appear to have another promising juvenile on their hands after Centigrade's runaway victory in the mile novice stakes. 

The Ralph Beckett-trained son of Too Darn Hot produced a powerful turn of foot to finish five and a half lengths clear of Furthur.

Centigrade, who fetched €120,000 at the Arqana breeze-up sales, went one better than his short-head defeat on his debut at Sandown and connections are excited for what may come next season.

Highclere's Harry Herbert said: "He's got size and scope, and he looks to be a nice horse for next year. How good he will be I don't know, but when you win like that you can dream through the winter.

"There were words about him before Sandown and that was a hell of a run. Ralph has left him alone completely, and he's given him all the time needed to come back. It's why he's such a wonderful trainer." 

High spirits

Eve Johnson Houghton already has one eye on next season with Spirit Of Farhh after he got off the mark at the third attempt in the 6½f maiden.

The juvenile impressed in two starts last month and Johnson Houghton believes he will have more to offer next year.

She said: "He'll be a fun horse for next year. His form is pretty good and the two horses who have beaten him [Diego Ventura and Fast Track Harry] are taking each other on in Listed company at Doncaster. 

"He's big and he's just got to improve. He went through it better than the others and his experience has helped."

It was the first part of a double for the Blewbury trainer, who followed up when landing the 7f handicap with Mercian Warrior, and a record-extending 55th winner of the year. 

Johnson Houghton added: "We've had a great season, it's been wonderful. I'm really happy to have a nice end to the campaign. I was starting to think it was all quieting down a little, but I came here with some nice chances."

Listed potential

Dan and Claire Kubler continued their fun with Ciara Pearl after she recorded her fifth success of the year in the 1m2f fillies' handicap.

The four-year-old held off Big Bear Hug in second and joint-trainer Dan Kubler is tempted to look for Listed company next.

He said: "She's a credit to herself. She's won five times this year, and that takes a bit of doing. We'll have a look at either the Listed Gillies at Doncaster or a 1m5f Listed race [the River Eden Fillies' Stakes] at Lingfield a bit later on. We'll have to see how she comes out of it."

Patience rewarded

Connections of Knebworth had to wait for a lengthy stewards' inquiry before celebrating his success in the 6f handicap.

After the interference between the winner and Capote's Dream was deemed not to have impacted the result, the placings remained unaltered. However, winning jockey Ethan Jones was suspended for two days due to careless riding.

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