Tyson Fury is a knockout Donny debutant

The equine Tyson Fury made a winning start to his career with victory in the Follow At The Races On Twitter Novice Stakes at Doncaster.

Trained by Richard Spencer, the giant three-year-old moved like a horse of some potential before sweeping to the front on Sunday and having only to be kept up to his work by Megan Nicholls to beat Postileo by a length and a half.

The 20-1 winner therefore did his heavyweight boxing alter ego proud at the first time of asking, having been named after the two-time champion when Fury gave his blessing to part-owner Phil Cunningham to do so last year.

Nicholls told Sky Sports Racing: “I’m delighted with that, and it’s great for (connections), because they’ve had to be patient with him. He’s a big horse and has taken a bit of time, but it was a perfect introduction.

“We had a little bit of an awkward start – he was a little bit green and had a couple of bumps, but every time I gave him a squeeze he was there in my hands. I was always confident he was going to pick up, but I didn’t think he was going to pick up quite like that – it was a nice performance.

“He’s a big horse – and on a nice, big galloping track you can find a nice rhythm on him. Hopefully there’ll be improvement to come.”

Asked if Fury was watching the race, Nicholls said: “I hope (so). I just said to Richard we might be able to go to a fight now!

“It’s brilliant, it’s been a fun thing for everyone involved and it’s great to have Tyson Fury involved, in a sense. To get him off to a winning start is great.”

Speaking in February last year, Newmarket-based Spencer explained that Fury had agreed to the Iffraaj colt carrying his name.

He said: “Phil Cunningham is friendly with one of his team, so that is how the link-up came about and how we got to meet him.

“He’s given us permission to name a horse after him, which is great. Hopefully, he can turn out to be all right.”