Review: To watch the opening two miles of this horse’s first-time-out victory in a ten-runner maiden point-to-point at Upcott Cross in Devon is to witness a very green performance. Niggled and cajoled, but jumping cleanly, he was kept in contention, but only started to latch on heading into the back straight for the final time. Turning for home he was the sole danger to his market rival, and with a good jump at the last he swept into the lead and passed the post four and a half lengths to the good. His win bore the hallmark of a youngster who has lots of progress to come, and his trainer said it was the horse’s first day away from home, and he rued his inability to give him a schooling session or two at a point-to-point course due to Covid restrictions. The race-fit runner-up had been placed in a maiden race two weeks earlier. Hermes Du Douet is a good-sized gelding, AQPS-bred by leading sire Saddler Maker, and is a first winner for his unraced dam.