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 launching over fences in disrespectful health.


The four-year-old, a top-class hurdler who was 2nd in the Triumph last season before winning Punchestown's Champion Four Years of age Hurdle, tackled bigger barriers for the very first time at Exeter earlier in the month.


His 10-length success featured a small caution as 4 fences were omitted, but the horse has actually remained in such good form at Seven Barrows since that Henderson is lured to head to Sandown on December 6 for the Grade One Henry VIII.


"It was hard to know what to make of it due to the fact that there weren't adequate fences," Henderson stated of Lulamba's debut to Sky Sports Racing.


"He had a great settled-down learning over the first four fences and after that the next next mile and a quarter didn't have any fences since of the low sun in the back straight.


"Then he leapt the 3 up the straight really well. The horses in the race were no mugs at all and I believed the was quite smooth.


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


"He's returned incredibly well, he's the most remarkable character due to the fact that even after the Triumph last year I recommended putting him away, however he was so fresh. We were actually going to take him to Aintree.


"This fellow can buck and screech and play a video 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 quite quickly and head to Sandown the weekend after next and have a look at the Henry VIII.


"That's where his leaping will be evaluated, whereas Exeter didn't check his jumping, however he's always been great in the house. That's why we are going down the novice chasing road instead of the Champion Hurdle route."