First Lord De Cuet

First Lord De Cuet put up a strong performance to win the two-mile-five-furlong handicap hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday. Prominent from early, up in behind a good pace that Kansas City Chief set, he moved up nicely to dispute the lead going down the back straight final time. Three others were up there with him, Kansas City Chief, Oneupmanship and Adicci, and they all travelled well to the end of the back straight, but First Lord De Cuet moved to the front as they left the back straight, and Adicci was the only one of his rivals who was able to travel up in behind him. Adicci came under pressure, however, as they raced to the second last flight, whereas Jack Tudor was still fairly motionless on the leader at that point. He didn’t go for his horse until they had landed over the final flight and, when he did, First Lord De Cuet picked up well, and he came clear to win impressively.

David Pipe’s horse continues on a good upwards trajectory. Winner of his maiden hurdle at Southwell in December last season, he hadn’t won in five attempts this season before Saturday, but he had finished second three times, including on his previous run at Chepstow, when he got to within two and a half lengths of Nightboattoclyro, who won next time too at Wetherby off a 5lb higher mark. The handicapper raised First Lord De Cuet by 10lb for Saturday’s win to a mark of 137, but he is only seven and he will be of interest again off his higher mark. He obviously goes well on this soft ground, but he ran well at Market Rasen last November on goodish ground. Also, he won his point-to-point for Donnchadh Doyle on good ground and he won his bumper on good to soft ground, so he will remain of interest as we move into the spring.
Wincanton, 20th February 2021