Now returned to an artificial surface, Harbour Breeze looks decent value to land the spoils at 11/2 with BetVictor in the mile handicap at Kempton on Wednesday (19:00).
This Lucy Wadham trained five-year-old is lightly-raced for his age after just nine starts – winning twice and making the frame on two occasions. Both those successes have come on the all-weather.
After beating Addis Adaba by a head on the Tapeta at Newcastle last April, Harbour Breeze defied a 4lb rise in the weights to follow-up in a class 3 over 1m 3f at this venue off a mark of 83.
Once he took up the running two from home, the son of Le Havre found plenty for pressure to fend off the persistent challenge of Koeman and score by a short-head.
It was a most taking and game display which saw the gelding put up another 5lb to 88. He then subsequently failed to trouble the judge in three outings last summer.
All of those runs came on the turf, however. Harbour Breeze was far from disgraced when finishing a never nearer 5 3/4 lengths seventh of 10 to Jazeel in a decent class 2 contest at Sandown.
Form of Harbour Breeze racecourse debut strong
He now returns to action following a break off a reduced rating of 85 and remains with potential now back on the all-weather.
This also doesn’t look the strongest of class 4 contests and Harbour Breeze has a 33 per cent strike rate in the grade, having won and been placed once from three starts in it.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that he ran very well on racecourse debut at this venue when a 7 1/2 lengths fifth of 13 to Ispolini.
The winner has gone on to win three times since, including twice in Group 3 company to be rated 116, and the race also threw-up plenty of subsequent scorers.
It suggests that Harbour Breeze has scope to win races off his current rating.
Another plus is that handler Wadham, who is better known for her jumping exploits, has a decent record with her runners on the all-weather.
So, taking all this into account, Harbour Breeze looks to have lots going for him in what looks like a very winnable contest. He looks well worth a wager at the odds on offer
Bet of the Day: 11/2 with BetVictor, Harbour Breeze in the mile handicap at Kempton.
