Lulamba In The Running For Grade One Glory At Sandown

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


His 10-length success featured a slight caveat as 4 fences were omitted, but the horse has been in such great kind at Seven Barrows since that Henderson is tempted to head to Sandown on December 6 for the Grade One Henry VIII.


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


"He had a nice settled-down knowing over the first four fences and then the next next mile and a quarter didn't have any fences because 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 performance was quite smooth.


Lulamba winning the Ballymore Champion Four Years Of Age Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival (Brian Lawless/PA)


"He's come back incredibly well, he's the most amazing character due to the fact that even after the Triumph in 2015 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 squeal and play a video 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 tempted 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 jumping will be tested, whereas Exeter didn't check his jumping, but he's always been very great in the house. That's why we are decreasing the amateur chasing road instead of the Champion Hurdle path."