New Henderson hotpot Lulamba ready to make Kempton debut
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC: Trainer Nicky Henderson expects Lulamba to face a stern test on his British debut this weekend. Picture: Bradley Collyer/PA
Nicky Henderson has attempted to dampen the hype surrounding new Triumph Hurdle favourite Lulamba ahead of his planned British debut at Kempton Park on Saturday.
Bookmakers have reported a wave of support for the French recruit ahead of the juvenile championship at the Cheltenham Festival in March, with comparisons being made to his esteemed stablemate Sir Gino, who also started off life for Henderson and owners Joe and Marie Donnelly at Kempton last season.
While Sir Gino ultimately missed the Triumph Hurdle, he did win a Grade One at Aintree in the spring and has been hugely impressive in winning the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase so far this season.
Like Sir Gino, Lulamba is set to make his first start for his new connections having won on his only outing at Auteuil and is cramped odds for the juvenile hurdle which opens the weekend card.
Speaking on , Henderson said: "It's hard to tell, he's had one run in France and he did win. It's hard to tell the form, they were nearly all debutants.
"He did that nicely, but you've no idea what it was and what was in there. He's just a fine, big horse. If he was in England, I suspect he'd probably still be in the field, but they tend to get on with them in France.
"He's a very nice, very straightforward, scopey animal.
"Sir Gino was always very freaky, he was very speedy from the word go. They're pretty different."
Lulamba's rivals include another exciting French import in the form of the Paul Nicholls-trained Sauvignon, and James Owen's high-class Flat performer Lavender Hill Mob, who is bidding to make it third time lucky over obstacles.
"I think this looks a very competitive contest to be honest with you. I think if you look at Paul's horse, he's got some very grown-up Auteuil form because he has actually won a Listed race, which would be very superior to what Lulamba ran in," Henderson added.
"I like Kempton because invariably you'll get better ground. Sandown is 10 miles down the road, but you can be pretty sure most of the winter it's going to be very soft.
"At Kempton you've got a reasonably good chance of getting some reasonably decent ground, although not on this occasion I'm sure. It was lovely ground there the other day when everywhere else was very wet."
Lulamba has been backed in from 25-1 to 4-1 favouritism for the Triumph Hurdle with Coral, who make Lavender Hill Mob's stable companion East India Dock their 5-1 second-favourite.
Coral's David Stevens said: "Lulamba was put in our JCB Triumph Hurdle betting as a 25-1 shot back in November, but in recent days his Cheltenham price has absolutely collapsed, and his backers will be hoping he can justify his status as odds-on favourite for his British debut on Saturday."
Meanwhile, Intense Raffles is likely to be seen over hurdles at Navan next week, as connections continue to plot their course to the Randox Grand National in the spring.
Owned by the 'double green' team of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, he was an impressive winner of the Irish Grand National last year, with a tilt at the Merseyside showpiece — and the chance to add his name to the stellar list to complete the Fairyhouse/Aintree double — an obvious main objective for Thomas Gibney-trained seven-year-old this term.
With connections deciding to remain over timber until the weights for the big race are announced on February 11, he reappeared over the smaller obstacles at Navan in December, finishing in mid-division under Bryony Frost.
A best price of 16-1 for National glory behind defending champion I Am Maximus, Intense Raffles will again be seen hurdling for his next outing before a likely National tune-up at the scene of his finest hour in Fairyhouse's Bobbyjo Chase on February 22.
Gibney said: "He's getting on good, we'll make an entry for him at Navan on January 18, it'll just be your usual 0-140 handicap hurdle.
"Hopefully the road is still leading to Aintree, it's a long road, but we're still on it at the minute anyway.
"The plan would definitely be to go back over fences once the weights come out, more than likely it would be the Bobbyjo or something like that."
