Lulamba In The Running For Grade One Glory At Sandown

Nicky Henderson is aiming to the Betfair Henry Chase with Lulamba as he has actually come out of his debut 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 larger barriers for the first time at Exeter previously in the month.


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


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


"He had a great settled-down learning over the very first 4 fences and then the next next mile and a quarter didn't have any fences due to the fact that of the low sun in the back straight.


"Then he jumped the 3 up the straight truly well. The horses in the race were no mugs at all and I believed the performance was pretty smooth.


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


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


"This fellow can buck and screech and play a game, he's a horse you have 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 take a look at the Henry VIII.


"That's where his leaping will be checked, whereas Exeter didn't test his jumping, however he's always been very great in the house. That's why we are going down the newbie chasing roadway rather than the Champion Hurdle path."