EOIN Banville at Arctic Tack Stud will have been doubly pleased with the success of General Principle, victorious in the €500,000 BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday. He not only bred the nine-year-old winner of the race, but he stood the sire Gold Well (Sadler’s Wells) at his Co Wexford stud until his sale to the Coolmore National Hunt division in late 2012.

Gold Well was an unraced own-brother to Montjeu and General Principle is now among his top half a dozen runners, joining the likes of Holywell, Sausalito Sunrise, Johns Spirit, Grand Jesture and Gold Futures.