First Principle looks a contender for the All-Weather Mile Championships following his victory in the Always Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM Handicap at Southwell last week.
Trained by William Haggas, the son of Kingman made a successful debut at Kempton Park in December and returned this year with a second at Thirsk and another novice success at Windsor.
However, Craig Bennett’s homebred failed to build on that when upped to 10 furlongs on his handicap debut at Doncaster’s St Leger Festival in September, finishing eighth behind Devil’s Advocate.
Reverting to a mile at Southwell following a gelding operation, First Principle was always in the box seat under Joanna Mason and showed a good attitude to beat Two Tempting by three-quarters of a length. The handicapper responded with a 3lb rise to 91.
Mason said: “First Principle has been castrated since his last run and, with the step back down to a mile, Mr Haggas and I decided to keep it simple.
“We were not blessed with the best draw [10], so we wanted to be in the van with a nice lead and then get him to finish off his race. That is exactly what happened and, as soon as they came around me, he really gritted it out.
“He has taken a step forward from his last run, which was a bit disappointing, albeit over a different trip. I think there is definitely more to come from him.”
Lakers may have found his niche following a taking performance in a six-furlong handicap on the same Southwell card, with his victory earning a revised rating of 95. A recent addition to Kevin Philippart de Foy, the son of Pinatubo had raced over further since shedding his maiden tag at Ffos Las in June last year.
Across the English Channel, No Lunch outclassed his rivals in the seven-furlong Listed Prix Irish River at Deauville, the first leg of France’s Polytrack Challenge. Christophe Ferland’s runner is unbeaten in four all-weather starts, including beating G1 victor Tribalist by four and a half lengths at Chantilly in the spring.
Royal runner Warrant Holder was an eye-catching winner for John & Thady Gosden at Newcastle on the opening day of season 13 as he swept to victory in an extended 12-furlong class two handicap. The handicapper was suitably impressed, raising the son of Frankel 10lb to 100.
Ian Williams’ excellent record with stayers was highlighted the following afternoon at Kempton Park as Sheradann and Enemy delivered a one-two for the trainer in the two-mile feature. Sheradann has only been out of the frame once in six all-weather starts and will run off a revised mark of 92 next time out.
Over in Ireland, Spartan Arrow plundered the G3 Mercury Stakes at Dundalk for Archie Watson and Hollie Doyle. The five-furlong speedster was notching his second Stakes success of 2025, following a Chantilly Listed race in June.
