It is the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
Racingbase assesses the early market moves ahead of Saturday's big hurdle at the Berkshire track.
The Ladbroke Hurdle is always a fascinating race as it pits the rapidly progressive second season novices up against the seasoned campaigners that are tried and trusted at this level.
The former category are represented by several emerging sorts most notably the current ante-post favourite, Harry Tricker, an impressive winner at Sandown before being touched off by Khyber Kim in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Now we all know what his conqueror has done since that epic success in the mud at Prestbury Park, but does it make the 8lbs penalty a fair rise in the weights for the 6.2 favourite on Betfair?
Well there is little doubt that the two times hurdle winner has matured into the real thing this year and there is more to come. I feel the rise is indeed warranted as he travels well through his races and has a real turn of foot as well. On my ratings he should just about be favourite with his biggest asset being his ability to act well on all types of ground.
Get Me Out Of Here (9.8) is far less experienced having won three from three over timber. He won his last event at Newbury readily off a mark of 123 and a new level of 135 again looks right, but I fancy that his inexperience in a big bustling field could be his undoing and there are better value alternatives in the form of Ronaldo Des Mottes (21.0) and Tullamore Dew (80.0).
The latter will relish the return to a faster surface after being done no favours by the deep ground at Fontwell last time out and, although he has little to hide from the assessor, his high cruising speed will stand him in good stead here. The forecast going should see many outpaced once the field races in earnest out of Swinley Bottom.
But my main hope has to be the David Pipe-trained Ronaldo Des Mottes. Well fancied for the Greatwood, he ultimately ran well below par after having every chance at the top of the hill.
That's twice now he has disappointed at Prestbury Park and this flatter track going right-handed offers me more than a small piece of hope that he can reverse those placings with the likes of Harry Tricker and European Dream on these much better terms. Dropped 3lbs by the powers that be, there can be no excuses this time.
Of the remainder, Mamlook (13.5) has solid claims having run well here before on the Flat and over hurdles, while any market moves for Argento Luna (27.0) would be interesting. A breakneck pace would certainly suit this staying type off a lightweight from a stable that know the time of day in these big handicap hurdles.
To see the market and to get a free bet on the 2009 Ladbroke Hurdle, follow this link to Betfair now.