Cheltenham Festival 2015: Pertemps Final preview (14:05)

The lightly-raced Unique De Cotte can provide trainer David Pipe with his third winner of the Pertemps Newtork Final (14:05).

Pipe saddled Buena Vista to land the contest in 2010 and 2011 and, in Unique De Cotte, he has an unexposed type for this year’s renewal who looks potentially ahead of the handicapper.

This seven-year-old has only had five starts over hurdles, winning twice, and looked a horse to keep firmly onside when scoring over 2m 5f at this track back in November.

Unique De Cotte was backed as if defeat was out of the question in the 20-runner contest, despite having not been seen in action 640 days and came with a storming late run to beat Dark Spirit by a neck off a mark of 115.

The gelding was value for far more than the winning margin, as he made a catalogue of errors before staying on strongly to land the gamble.

Unique De Cotte then flopped at Newbury when turned out quickly, but left that run well behind last time out at Ascot when romping to a six length success over Padge off a rating of 125.

The son of Voix Du Nord was again far from fluent at a number of obstacles, and the manner of the performance suggested he had a huge engine and plenty more to offer.

Unqiue De Cotte had to win that race to get into this contest so, despite being 10lb higher in the weights, the plan by Pipe’s team has worked out perfectly and enabled him to sneak in off 10st 9lb.

This race is also traditionally run at a strong gallop which should suit Unique De Cotte, and he looks to have been laid out to win this for leading Irish owner and legendary gambler JP McManus.