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 debut over fences in rude 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, tackled larger obstacles for the first time at Exeter earlier in the month.

His 10-length success came with a slight caveat as four fences were omitted, but the horse has been in such good form 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 know what to make of it because there weren’t enough fences,” Henderson said of Lulamba’s debut to Sky Sports Racing.

“He had a nice 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 three up the straight really well. The horses in the race were no mugs at all and I thought the performance was pretty smooth.

“He’s come back extremely well, he’s the most amazing character because even after the Triumph last year I was all for putting him away, but he was just so fresh. We were actually going to take him to Aintree.

“This fellow can buck and squeal 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 tempted to come back quite quickly and head to Sandown the weekend after next and have a look at the Henry VIII.

“That’s where his jumping will be tested, whereas Exeter didn’t test his jumping, but he’s always been very good at home. That’s why we are going down the novice chasing road rather than the Champion Hurdle route.”