First Instinct stays on an upward curve at Haydock

remains unbeaten as William Haggas and enjoyed a two-year-old double at Haydock.

The daughter of Bated Breath had hinted at being a useful prospect when making a winning debut at Nottingham last month and confirmed that promise when shading a photo-finish in the Tattersalls £40,000 EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

Marquand told Racing TV: “She’s been faultless, I was a little bit worried the ground would blunt her speed, but she fell asleep early, which was key, I think. 

“She would have been an unlucky loser if she hadn’t got up, but it’s such a tough one with these horses who win first time because their education is so important. 

"I think she’s quicker than she’s shown there – I think that tacky ground just blunted her turn of foot a touch. 

"So while she did really well to get up, I think there is a bit more speed in the locker.”

Haggas and Marquand doubled their tally in the next race where Bintjeddah improved markedly on her Newmarket bow to get off the mark in the Arete Capital Foundation EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

Despite odds of 16-1, she scooted three lengths clear of runner-up Blessed Star to register a taking success.

Marquand said: “I still think she was a little bit unaware of what was happening, but she had a nice gallop to aim at and obviously that little wave of pressure from three furlongs down probably just helped her get into gear and I thought she did it nicely.

“She took a bit of stoking but she never had me worried, I always felt she was going to keep finding for pressure. She’s learned a lot, but I think there is still a bit more to come.

“It’s great she’s got her head in front and hopefully this will lead to nicer things and continue on a nice path for connections.”

Marquand registered a treble on the card when he steered Robert Stephens’ Knight Templar (11-2) to victory in the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap.

But there was no luck for the popular veteran Copper Knight in his 100th appearance as Tim Easterby’s 10-year-old could only finish eighth in the Lee Thomas Christy Memorial Handicap won by Tristan Davidson’s Our Absent Friend.