Lulamba In The Running For Grade One Glory At Sandown

Nicky Henderson is looking to the Betfair Henry VIII Novices' Chase with Lulamba as he has actually come out of his debut over fences in impolite health.


The four-year-old, a top-class hurdler who was second in the Triumph last season before winning Punchestown's Champion Four Years of age Hurdle, took on larger barriers for the very first time at Exeter previously in the month.


His 10-length success included a slight caveat as four fences were left out, however the horse has remained in such excellent kind at Seven Barrows because that Henderson is lured to head to Sandown on December 6 for the Grade One Henry VIII.


"It was difficult to understand what to make of it because there weren't enough fences," Henderson said of Lulamba's launching to Sky Sports Racing.


"He had a nice settled-down knowing over the first 4 fences and after that the next next mile and a quarter didn't have any fences because of the low sun in the back straight.


"Then he jumped the three up the straight really well. The horses in the race were no mugs at all and I thought the efficiency was pretty smooth.


Lulamba winning the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at the (Brian Lawless/PA)


"He's returned exceptionally well, he's the most fantastic character because even after the Triumph in 2015 I was all for putting him away, but he was so fresh. We were in fact going to take him to Aintree.


"This fellow can buck and screech and play a game, he's a horse you need to like as he's so passionate about what he's doing.


"He's come out of it so well, we're lured to come back rather rapidly and head to Sandown the weekend after next and have an appearance at the Henry VIII.


"That's where his leaping will be checked, whereas Exeter didn't check his jumping, however he's constantly been really great in your home. That's why we are going down the newbie chasing road rather than the Champion Hurdle path."