HOST Matt Ford has revealed the secret behind Renat Gafurov’s success: Team-mate Chris Holder and former Cherries striker Alan Connell.

Ford on Monday watched Russian Gafurov turn in a sensational paid 14 performance from reserve to help depleted Pirates clinch an unexpected 46-44 victory at Belle Vue.

It was the 28-year-old’s biggest return since joining Poole Castle Cover, with GP star Chris Harris the only Aces rider to lower his colours on a dramatic night at Kirky Lane.

Gafurov has been lodging with Ford since returning to UK racing following a five-year absence and found himself under the same roof as Aussie team-mate Holder and Grimsby Town striker Connell.

And Ford revealed the unlikely trio had become firm friends – with Gafurov even joining some of Connell’s former Cherries team-mates on a recent night out in Bournemouth.

The Pirates promoter told the Echo: “Chris Holder is staying with me while he has his new house decorated so I have him and Renat at my place. It’s definitely helping having Chris with him because it’s bringing a different side of Renat out.

“Alan Connell has also been staying with me for five or six weeks – I think he’s virtually moved in!

“It’s pretty manic in there at the moment although very good fun.

“They have a good relationship and, funnily enough, Renat actually went out with a few of the Cherries lads on Friday night. He is really mixing in and although he is quite a shy lad, his English is coming on and there isn’t much he doesn’t understand.

“He feels at home and we are benefiting from that.”

Pirates’ third away win of the season came against all odds, with the visitors missing big-guns Darcy Ward and Davey Watt as well as influential reserve Christian Hefenbrock.

Reflecting ahead of Poole Castle Cover’s top-of-the-table clash against leaders Eastbourne at Wimborne Road tonight (7.30pm), Ford added: “We shouldn’t have won that meeting. We had no right to win it.

“I spoke to all of the lads last night and everyone was over the moon. It was a great performance.

“That was our third away match on Sky Sports this year and we have won them all. Interestingly, we were without Darcy for all three as well so our form on the road is wonderful.

“It sends out a message to Eastbourne. I thought before the season started that they would be there or thereabouts and nothing has happened to change my mind.”

Pirates welcome back Watt and Ward for tonight’s meeting, but Hefenbrock misses out through injury so Kyle Newman deputises at reserve.

Pirates: 1 Chris Holder, 2 Dennis Andersson, 3 Davey Watt, Jason Doyle, 5 Darcy Ward, 6 Renat Gafurov, 7 Kyle Newman.

Eagles: 1 Lukas Dryml, 2 Joonas Kylmakorpi, 3 Bjarne Pedersen, 4 Lewis Bridger, 5 Simon Gustafsson, 6 Cameron Woodward 7 Timo Lahti.