All eyes on Lulamba for first start over fences at Exeter

Nicky Henderson believes Exeter on Monday is the perfect place to introduce Lulamba to fences.

Recent rain on Haldon Hill has left the going at an almost perfect good to soft, meaning a small but select six-runner field has been declared for the Royal Oak, Heavitree “Chasing Excellence” Beginners’ Chase.

Usually the prospect of a Grade One winner such as Lulamba would scare off the opposition – but such has been the disrupted start to the National Hunt season, he faces some pretty serious opposition.

Top of the list is Gary and Josh Moore’s Salver, rated 148 and placed in two Grade Two events last season, there is Fergal O’Brien’s Tripoli Flyer, winner of the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton, and Olly Murphy’s Fingal Bridge who is unbeaten in four.

It would also be folly to dismiss Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm’s Stencil who comes over from France having had a tall reputation last season, and while Dan Skelton’s Largy Belter appears to have plenty to find, nothing from that yard can be dismissed with any confidence.

“It’s exciting to get him chasing and he was unlucky to not win a Triumph Hurdle last season,”  said Henderson.

“He’s been very good at this (fences) at home and it seemed the obvious thing to do, mainly because I couldn’t see him winning a Champion Hurdle. He’s a thorough staying chaser in the making.

“It’s a great track Exeter, you would buy it as a racecourse to just introduce novice chasers and school them round.

“It’s the perfect place for him and there’s a couple of nice horses in there, so he will get an examination.”

He added: “You wouldn’t want to go any more than two miles the first time, but if you wanted to go two and a half in the future you can.

“Let’s just see, he was very good over two miles last season when he should arguably have been a dual Grade One winner.”