Saturday's big handicap hurdle at Ascot, the Betfair Exchange Trophy, is as competitive as ever but such races can offer plenty of value and HARAMBE is fancied to go well at double-figure odds.
This, according to trainer Alan King, is the seven-year-old's last roll of the dice over hurdles before being sent chasing, but these big field handicaps suit him well as he proved when winning the Greatwood at Cheltenham last season.
Harambe ran just once more in February but, on a faster surface, got too far back in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and, while making good late headway under pressure, he looked unlikely to reach the leaders when brought down at the final flight.
Reappearing after a nine month absence to defend his Greatwood crown at Cheltenham last month, Tom Bellamy's mount travelled smoothly and had just come off the bridle when again exiting at the last obstacle behind The Shunter.
If that run was slightly needed, then Harambe looks sure to be involved here off a 1lb lower mark and, with the stiff Ascot course on a testing surface likely to play to his strengths, I am surprised he has been so overlooked in the market.
There are big prices on offer about many other runners as Buzz has dominated the betting after his easy course and distance success last month which resulted in an 11lb rise in the ratings.
However, in hindsight, that wasn't the strongest of contests (he went off even money favourite) and, under 11st12lb, he looks worth taking on.
At Haydock, I fancy another couple of runners at decent odds.
In the Betfair Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase, LORD NAPIER should relish what is usually a hard slog over nearly three-and-a-quarter miles.
Peter Bowen's gelding ran just twice last season but is slowly working his way back to form over fences and kept on well in the closing stages to take second in the heavy ground at Chepstow last time behind a potentially useful horse of Harry Fry's called Ask Me Early.
On the best of his hurdling efforts, Lord Napier has definite claims as he bolted up in a staying, soft ground handicap at Sandown off a mark of 134 in February '19 (earning an 11lb rise) and can run here off 2lb lower.
Later on, DADSINTROUBLE also looks interesting in the Listen To Paul Nicholls On Betting Betfair Handicap Hurdle.
The ten-year-old has been struggling to recapture his best form in the past two seasons but there were clear signs of a revival at Market Rasen last month when, fitted with a visor for the first time (re-fitted here), he held every chance before unseating his rider at the second last.
Now rated 123, Dadsintrouble has tumbled down the weights since completing a course double (over 2m7f) in January and February '17 and he is now a stone lower than his peak mark on this return to Haydock.
Published at 1540 GMT on 18/12/20
