Henderson said: “He is in good form, but it is a very competitive race.

“He did it well over the same course and distance last time and this looked the obvious race to go for.

“Mick (Fitzgerald) rode a very good race on him last time but now we have got to do it all again.

“I imagine the tactics will be the same, although to be honest we don’t have a lot of choice with him. It’s how he likes to run and I don’t think we’re going to try and change him now.”

Hawadeth meets Greenhope on 4lb better terms in the £50,000-added contest and his trainer Victor Dartnall is hoping the going does not get any softer.

“He’s in good form. He needs no softer than good to soft. He’s not very big and I have always felt he would be a better horse with a lighter weight in better company,” the Barnstaple trainer told attheraces.

“He’s rated 125, which means in a lot of races he’s going to be carrying top weights, but in these bigger handicaps he gets in with a light weight.

“He earned a lot of money last year just being placed in three of them.”

Jockey Robert Thornton is confident of a big run from the Alan King-trained Kadount, who is unbeaten in three novice events and is challenging Greenhope for favouritism with the Tote at 100-30.

“We are very pleased with him. He’s progressed and improved all the way through,” he told attheraces.

“He’s got a good chance tomorrow. He’s clearly got to improve again but I’d expect a decent run from him. He’s a lovely horse and everything you ask him to do at home he does well. He’s got loads of speed.

“It could be the first time he’ll have a race run to suit. The three races I’ve ridden him in before they have gone no gallop and he’s been very keen. I’d like to see him settle and come there between the last two.”

The Venetia Williams-trained Limerick Boy, who heads a field of 11 on 11st 12lb, is on a retrieving mission, having been pulled up at Newbury on his latest start in November.

Next in the weights on 11st 9lb is the Paul Nicholls-trained Perouse, who has finished first or second in his last five starts.

“He’s taken a big hike in the weights but obviously on his run at Cheltenham last time his well-being is still good,” said Nicholls’ assistant Jeremy Young.

“He has 11st 9lb and has a lot to do at the weights. There are a couple in at the bottom who could give him a big run for it.

“Ruby (Walsh) has always suggested he is better right-handed, so who knows?”

Two trainers are double-handed, Martin Pipe saddling Golden Alpha and Idaho D’Ox, with Richard Fahey sending Altay and Swan Knight down from his Malton base.

Tote Scoop6 Lanzarote Hurdle betting:

Tote: 3-1 Greenhope, 100-30 Kadount, 9-2 Perouse, 6-1 Hawadeth, 8-1 Majlis, 10-1 Altay, 14-1 Golden Alpha, Limerick Boy, 20-1 Pirandello, 25-1 Swan Knight, 28-1 Idaho D’Ox.

Ladbrokes: 100-30 Greenhope, 7-2 Kadount, 9-2 Perouse, 5-1 Hawadeth, 9-1 Altay, Majlis, 16-1 Limerick Boy, Golden Alpha, 16-1 Pirandello, 18-1 Swan Knight, 33-1 Idaho D’Ox.