First Lord De Cuet drops in class for the extended 1m 7f maiden hurdle at Southwell on Tuesday (13:30).
This French bred five-year-old is trained by David Pipe and joined the Pond House handler after winning an Irish point.
The grey gelding held on well at Tralee to score by a head, so looked a good bumper prospect last season.
He came on for his Rules debut at Taunton in February when trying to give 9lb to Perfect Predator.
Next time up at Plumpton with a bit of ease in the ground when sent off favourite with bookmakers, First Lord De Cuet bolted up by 13 lengths.
The way he was in command entering the straight and ran on so well to score easily suggested he was one to follow.
He shaped with plenty of promise on his hurdles bow in a hot novice contest at Wincanton last month.
First Lord De Cuet fancied to come on for hurdles debut
After tracking the leaders, he wasn’t fluent three out. Although outpaced in-between the last two flights, he still kept on and went down by 12 lengths.
The three horses home in front of him – Edwardstone, Fiddlerontheroof and Flic Ou Voyou – are all smart horses.
First Lord De Cuet was far from disgraced on his first outing over the smaller obstacles. He is sure to have learned plenty from it.
Now down in grade to this class 4 maiden hurdle, the son of Lord Du Sud could well resume winning ways.
Odds of 9/4 with SportNation say he will do just that. This is a bigger field than he has previously raced in, but market confidence is with him.
Pipe’s stable is also on a fine 24 per cent strike rate with its runners in the last 14 days.
This softer surface at Southwell is no problem on breeding, so he’s the one to be on.
Bet of the Day: 9/4 with SportNation, First Lord De Cuet in the maiden hurdle at Southwell.
