Lulamba In The Running For Grade One Glory At Sandown

Nicky Henderson is wanting to the Betfair Henry VIII Novices' Chase with Lulamba as he has actually come out of his debut over fences in rude 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 for the very first time at Exeter previously in the month.


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


"It was tough to understand what to make from it since there weren't enough fences," Henderson stated of Lulamba's debut to Sky Sports Racing.


"He had a good settled-down knowing over the very 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 jumped the 3 up the straight really well. The horses in the race were no mugs at all and I believed the performance was quite smooth.


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


"He's come back extremely well, he's the most amazing character since even after the Triumph in 2015 I was all for 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 have to like as he's just so enthusiastic about what he's doing.


"He's come out of it so well, we're tempted to come back rather quickly and head to Sandown the weekend after next and take a look at the Henry VIII.


"That's where his leaping will be checked, whereas Exeter didn't evaluate his leaping, however he's always been excellent in your home. That's why we are going down the amateur chasing road rather than the Champion Hurdle route."