[3] As a son of Blakeney, Electric was a representatives of the Byerley Turk sire line,[4] unlike more than 95% of modern thoroughbreds, who descend directly from the Darley Arabian.
[8] In January 1997, the gelding was switched to compete in novice hurdle races, making his debut over obstacles when finishing fifth behind Red Blazer at Leicester.
Princeful began to compete against more experienced hurdlers in the 1997/1998 National Hunt season, beginning his campaign when finishing second under top weight of 164 pounds in a two-mile handicap at Ascot Racecourse in November.
Two weeks later he finished fourth of twenty-one starters behind Major Jamie in the valuable William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Sandown Park Racecourse, again over two miles.
Farrant restrained the gelding in the early stages as the Martin Pipe-trained Gysart set the pace from Ocean Hawk and Splendid Thyne.
Princeful began to make progress from half way and overtook Splendid Thyne to take the lead approaching the final flight of hurdles.
Ridden by Richard Dunwoody, he was under pressure two hurdles from the finish, but stayed on to overtake Shooting Light on the run-in and won by two and a half lengths.
Paddy's Return, Ocean Hawk and Shooting Light were again in opposition as well as the 1996 Stayers' Hurdle winner Cyborgo and the Martin Pipe-trained Deano's Beeno who had won his last three races.
It was at first believed that Princeful's injuries amounted to nothing more than a "sprain", but an X-ray examination revealed that the gelding had fractured a pedal bone in his left hind leg.