Betfair Henry VIII Novices' Chase |
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| Grade 1, Sandown £100,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 119y, Class 1  |
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Nicky Henderson seems perfectly content with how Lulamba has taken to the chasing game, the youngster bouncing out of his Exeter introduction in the sort of fettle that has connections eyeing Sandown’s Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.
🥇 Absolutely thrilled with Lulamba @ExeterRaces who makes a winning start to life over fences. Well done to his owner Joe Donnelly. He has a very bright future ahead of him.pic.twitter.com/ERGchALPhB
— Nicky Henderson (@sevenbarrows) November 17, 2025
The four-year-old, already proven top-tier over hurdles after finishing runner-up in the Triumph and then sweeping to Punchestown glory, faced fences for the first time earlier this month. His 10-length victory came with the footnote of four missing obstacles, but the stride he has shown back at Seven Barrows has clearly encouraged his trainer to think boldly ahead of December 6.
“It was hard to know what to make of it because there weren’t enough fences,” Henderson told Sky Sports Racing, summing up Lulamba’s Exeter bow. “He had a nice settled-down learning over the first four fences and then the 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.”
With Henderson’s trademark blend of caution and optimism, the scene is set: Sandown will ask the questions Exeter couldn’t, and Lulamba may soon show just how high his ceiling really is.
Henry VIII Novices' Chase (Grade 1)
£100,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 119y, Class 1
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