‘She’s clearly going to be quite useful’ - First Instinct remains unbeaten as Tom Marquand completes 1,049-1 hat-trick

Tom Marquand was full of praise for First Instinct after the 17-2 shot edged out favourite Stormy Impact in the 6f fillies’ novice for juveniles.

Carrying a 6lb penalty for her debut Nottingham success last month, the William Haggas-trained half-sister to Listed winner Variable showed a good turn of foot in the final furlong to win by a short head.

“She proved she’s clearly going to be quite useful because she was able to go through and win,” Marquand told Racing TV. “It’s such a tough one as so often you find that they'll win first time out, but the majority of them get beaten second time because they haven't had much of an education.

“She was good enough to get her head in front there, and she’s had a nice day at the races.”

First Instinct (left) kickstarts a Haydock hat-trick for Tom Marquand with victory in the 6f fillies' noviceCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The winning rider added: “She’s pretty quick. She’s faster than she’s shown there and I think the tacky ground has just blunted her turn of foot a touch. While she did well to get up, I think there’s a bit more speed in the locker than she’s shown.”

Marquand completed a quickfire 1,049-1 hat-trick by following up in the next two races. The jockey made it a double for Haggas when 16-1 outsider Bintjeddah won the mile juvenile novice, before landing the 1m6f handicap on the Robert Stephens-trained 11-2 chance Knight Templar.

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