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 come out of his launching over fences in impolite health.


The four-year-old, a top-class hurdler who was second 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 came with a slight caution as four fences were omitted, but the horse has actually remained in such great form 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 know what to make from it since there weren't enough fences," Henderson said of Lulamba's debut to Sky Sports Racing.


"He had a good settled-down learning 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 jumped the 3 up the straight actually 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 returned very well, he's the most fantastic character due to the fact that even after the Triumph last year I recommended putting him away, but he was simply so fresh. We were in fact going to take him to Aintree.


"This fellow can buck and and play a video game, he's a horse you need to love as he's simply so passionate about what he's doing.


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


"That's where his jumping will be evaluated, whereas Exeter didn't test his leaping, however he's constantly been really great in your home. That's why we are going down the novice chasing roadway rather than the Champion Hurdle path."