What a start: watch Hollie Doyle kick off her big weekend with Deauville win

Hollie Doyle has kicked off what will be a huge weekend in her young life with an all-the-way success aboard Colonel Faulkner, the first of two rides in France today for boss Archie Watson.

Doyle will be in front of the eyes of the nation when she bids to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday evening but it was business as usual as she bounced Colonel Faulkner out in front in the Prix de Martainville, a seven and a half furlong maiden on the Deauville Polytrack.

"He's very tough and is a nicely-bred horse by Wootton Bassett. He stays a bit further, settled well and quickened up well," Doyle told French racing channel Equidia I'd like to think he'll be able to step up to that company [Listed or Group] at some stage next year. He's still got a bit of growing to do, which is good. He's going the right way."

Doyle and Watson were out of luck later on the card when Dancing Feet finished down the field in the Listed Prix Miss Satamixa behind the former Charlie Appleby-trained Alpen Rose.

Doyle is riding in France under the BHA’s elite sport protocol, designed to enable jockeys to avoid quarantine measures when travelling abroad, but has had to be granted a special TV production exemption in order to appear live in the Manchester studio where Sports Personality will be broadcast live on Sunday evening.

Read more:

Four runners who are sure to be suited by the heavy ground at Ascot on Saturday

One key runner for each of the six ITV4 races at Ascot and Haydock on Saturday

Buzz big drifter as Irish raider backed into 9-1 (from 16) for Ascot finale

Heavyweights battle for staying supremacy in star-studded Long Walk Hurdle (Essential members only)

Why Long Walk is a far more complex puzzle than Newbury clash would make it seem (Essential members only)

'It's not just a rematch' - Johnson and Lavelle wary of Long Walk Hurdle dangers

'Backers of hype horse Buzz are advised to watch his in-running price'

Did you know you can bet with your online bookmaker without leaving the Racing Post app? Simply sign in to your existing bookmaker account via the accounts button and tap the odds buttons on a racecard to place bets