Lulamba In The Running For Grade One Glory At Sandown

Nicky Henderson is seeking 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 second in the Triumph last season before winning Punchestown's Champion Four Year Old Hurdle, took on bigger barriers for the very first time at Exeter previously in the month.


His 10-length success featured a minor caveat as 4 fences were left out, but the horse has remained in such great type 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 understand what to make of it since there weren't sufficient fences," Henderson stated of Lulamba's launching to Sky Sports Racing.


"He had a great settled-down learning over the 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 leapt the three up the straight really well. The horses in the race were no mugs at all and I believed the efficiency was quite smooth.


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


"He's returned extremely well, he's the most remarkable character due to the fact that even after the Triumph last year I was all for putting him away, but he was just so fresh. We were really 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 enthusiastic about what he's doing.


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


"That's where his leaping will be evaluated, whereas Exeter didn't test his jumping, however he's constantly been great at home. That's why we are decreasing the beginner chasing road rather than the Champion Hurdle path."