Harambe strikes late in a thriller to land Greatwood spoils for Alan King

It is not known how proficient Alan King is behind a computer, but when it comes to readying horses for big races he is right up there and the latest piece of compelling evidence to support that came in the £100,000 Unibet-sponsored Greatwood Hurdle, which went to the trainer's Harambe.

The 16-1 winner was delivered perfectly by Tom Bellamy to claim the Grade 3 handicap, edging a neck clear of Gumball with Monsieur Lecoq third and Quoi De Neuf fourth.

King was a Greatwood winner with Elgin two years ago, but was absent.

Luckily, his secretary Charlotte Burke, who is involved in the ownership of Harambe, was on hand to speak for her boss, whose winner was considered a doubtful runner at the start of the week.

Not necessarily fearing a Microsoft meltdown on her return, she said: "Alan's having a busy day in the office, so roles are slightly reversed. I'm here having a day out and it couldn't have gone better. We're really happy – you couldn't not be – it was perfect."

Harambe (Tom Bellamy, black cap) powers between Gumball (left) and Monsieur Lecoq (orange) to win the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on SundayCredit: GROSSICK RACING (racingpost.com/photos)

A son of Malinas, Harambe races in the colours of Niall Farrell – a staunch Barbury Castle supporter – and his friends, whom Burke is one of.

She added: "Niall is a really good owner of ours and a few years ago he wanted to get a horse to have with the staff in the yard. Ciaran [O'Brien] was the head lad then and some mates are involved. Niall wanted to give us some fun, and we've had that.

"I wasn't too worried about the setback because I thought if we missed this, there'd be other races, but he worked really well this week. I had a nice little bet, 18-1, and I was confident he'd be in the first four."

Farrell reckoned Harambe was the 98th winner King had saddled for him and few could have given him more pleasure.

"He had a bit of a blip last week and we took our time, but he did a bit of work in the week and came back to his best," he said.

"He's a lovely horse. We've had him since he was a baby and we thought this race would be a nice opportunity. All was going well until last week but we couldn't be happier.

"Whenever a trainer calls you and you're not expecting it, it's never good news, but time and patience helped, as did having a great team behind him."

Harambe with his delighted connectionsCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Farrell, a long-time patron of King's, added: "This is huge. Coming here and having a runner is brilliant, but the Greatwood is a huge, historic race, so I'm delighted."

King was fielding his own calls after the victory and said from his Wiltshire base: "Niall's been with me a long time and started in some of the early syndicates. He was also involved in The Hairy Lemon, who won a few good handicaps.

"Harambe had a bad scope a week last Friday and it was touch and go, but he worked very well on Friday morning so we let him take his chance – if he hadn't pleased me on Friday he wouldn't have run, but we got away with it.

"He probably doesn't want a lot of racing, but I'd have thought we'd look at that two-mile handicap hurdle at Ascot before Christmas, and I've always said he'd make the most gorgeous chaser down the line, but that will be next season."

The prospect of the six-year-old going over fences is one Bellamy is relishing, but for now he was savouring a sweet pre-Christmas treat.

"I'm chuffed for the horse as much as anything because we knew he had plenty of ability," said the rider, now a rung up the ladder at King's following the recent retirement of stable jockey Wayne Hutchinson.

"This is massive. To be trusted with the ride was a big step for me so it's great to repay that."

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