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 rude health.


The four-year-old, a top-class hurdler who was 2nd in the Triumph last season before winning Punchestown's Champion Four Year Old Hurdle, dealt with larger challenges for the very first time at Exeter earlier in the month.


His 10-length success came with a minor caveat as four fences were left out, but the horse has actually remained in such excellent form at Seven Barrows because that Henderson is lured to head to Sandown on December 6 for the Grade One Henry VIII.


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


"He had a nice settled-down knowing over the very first 4 fences and after that the next next mile and a quarter didn't have any fences because 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 thought the was quite smooth.


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


"He's returned extremely well, he's the most fantastic character since even after the Triumph in 2015 I recommended putting him away, but he was 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 have to love as he's just so enthusiastic 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, but he's always been extremely good in the house. That's why we are decreasing the novice chasing road rather than the Champion Hurdle route."