Lulamba maintained his unbeaten record with an ultimately clear-cut win in the William Hill Game Spirit Chase at Newbury – but it wasn’t without a scare or two.
Nicky Henderson’s charge wasn’t foot perfect at his fences and turning in looked to have a real race on his hooves.
But between the third and second last he took hold of the bridle under Nico De Boinville and was soon in front.
Assured jumps at the final fences followed and he hit the line six-and-a-half lengths clear of Saint Segal.
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Latest Arkle betting
Paddy Power/Sky Bet (Non-runner/no bet): 11/8 Lulamba, 5/2 Kopek Des Bordes, 4 Romeo Coolio 5 Kargese, 10 Irish Panther, Kappa Jy Pyke 14 Bar
Post-race reaction
The winning trainer said: "I really don’t think that was his ground, but they have done a great job. I was amazed how un-heavy it was. Nico and I walked around this morning and we were perfectly happy to run. He must better on good ground, and I think he will jump better on good ground. He didn’t need a race, but he needed the experience. Going with those older horses where they are going to go a proper good gallop is where you are going to learn. Running against novices, it finds it not easy, but he lacked the experience and these older boys don’t half teach you a bit as you have got to jump that stride quicker.
“Nico said he was the same at Sandown (in taking time to warm up the race), but when he got down to the back straight he really latched on. The time was really good at Sandown, which suggested they had gone a good gallop. We know Saint Segal and Master Chewy can go a good gallop. It helps them to learn.
“He has got loads of scope, and we have lots of time for a little practice. It (his jumping) has got a little bit of finesse to come, but that will be there, I hope, come the Tuesday of the Cheltenham Festival in March. I don’t think he would need a racecourse gallop. I would be surprised if he is not bucking and squealing come Tuesday or Wednesday.
“I remember last season after Cheltenham we had no plan to go to Aintree, but Henry Main, who rides him every day and knows him backwards, said he is too fresh. We were going to go to Aintree, but it was too quick to run him, so we went to Punchestown instead.
“He is just a horse that loves life. Despite the ground I think he has enjoyed himself and I liked the way he quickened up from the second last as the gears worked.
“The reason he was here was that he needed the practice. He got none at Exeter, and he was great at Sandown, but when you are jumping around with those older horses you are going half a gear faster, and that is what he will be doing at Cheltenham. This will go further without a shadow of a doubt.”
De Boinville said: “He is a lovely horse and a smashing one to go forward with. He is still a novice remember, and he was a novice in open company there, and you are against seasoned handicappers.
"He took a bit of time to learn on the job, but once we turned in and got a bit of light away he went. Once I got onto that inside rail he came alive then.
“We were desperate to get a run into him as those fences at Cheltenham come up quick. We were umming and arring whether to run, but ultimately we have done the job.
“He has got a big engine there, but I don’t want to compare (with previous novice chasers). I was very happy.”
Timeform view from the course - David Cleary
Lulamba followed in the footsteps two of his stable's most illustrious chasers Sprinter Sacre and Altior, landing short odds in winning the Game Spirit Chase as a novice, using the race as a prep for the Arkle at Cheltenham. Both Sprinter Sacre and Altior went on to success in that race and Lulamba is a warm favourite to complete the double.
The style of the performance was rather different to that of Sprinter Sacre and Altior, who both won in impressive fashion. Lulamba was off the bridle early in the straight, but picked up to dispute the lead three out before taking command after the next. He drew 6½ lengths clear of Saint Segal and Libberty Hunter, who fought out second and third.
The race was strongly run, which looked to play to Lulamba's advantage (It also suited the third, who was dropped right out). In form terms, Lulamba's performance was on a par with that achieved by Sprinter Sacre and Altior in the Game Spirit. They both stepped up significantly when it came to Cheltenham, and there seems every chance that Lulamba, who ought to have learnt plenty from this experience, will make similar progress.
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