The next Sir Gino? Nicky Henderson French recruit backed into Triumph Hurdle favourite after being declared for stable debut

Lulamba has been cut to outright JCB Triumph Hurdle favouritism after the four-year-old was declared to make his stable debut for Nicky Henderson at Kempton on Saturday.

A five-length winner of an Auteuil hurdles race for Arnaud Chaille-Chaille in October, Lulamba was the subject of significant support earlier in the week after he was entered for Kempton's juvenile hurdle (12.25).

He will run in the familiar black and yellow chequered silks of Joe and Marie Donnelly, which are currently sported by stars such as Sir Gino, another Auteuil recruit trained by Henderson, and Champion Hurdle winner State Man.

On Tuesday William Hill reported "a sea of support" for Lulamba after he was added to their non-runner no-bet festival market, cutting his price from 12-1 to 6-1. Lulamba shared favouritism with East India Dock before Thursday morning but most firms have followed bet365 by trimming the former to 4-1 clear favourite over James Owen's Grade 2 Cheltenham winner.

He was also tipped up for the Triumph by the Racing Post's David Jennings on ante-post Cheltenham Festival YouTube show Upping The Ante.

Henderson described Lulamba as "a very nice horse" as he looks forward to a first run in Britain, adding: "He's done everything nicely, and it's now time to get him out there and see what he's capable of. He had one run in France, which he won, and he's been here since October. He's done really well physically and he's a fine, big horse. He's a big scopey boy."

East India Dock's stablemate Lavender Hill Mob is one of six rivals Lulamba takes on in Kempton's opener. Another Auteuil winner, Sauvignon, makes his British debut for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden, who combined to win this race last year with Kalif Du Berlais.

Coral have priced up Lulamba up at 4-9 to make a winning start in Britain on Saturday. Spokesperson David Stevens said: "Lulamba was put in our 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."

David Jennings: why I'm backing Lulamba for the Triumph Hurdle

East India Dock and Hello Neighbour are both unbeaten so you can understand why they are prominent in the betting, but I can't help thinking the Triumph Hurdle market is going to go through a bit of a revamp over the next month, starting on Saturday in the opener at Kempton.

Lulamba could be absolutely anything. He's come from Arnaud Chaille-Chaille in France, who also had Champion Hurdle dark horse Anzadam who has exploded onto the scene with Willie Mullins, and what I loved about his debut success at Auteuil was the way he hit the line. 

He looked like he might win coming down to the last, but he ended up bolting up by five lengths and had they kept going for another furlong he could have won by ten. Lanivtsi, the fifth horse home there, beaten 18 lengths, won next time so that gives the form a reasonably solid look.

Maybe it's recency bias and we can't get Sir Gino out of our heads, but if Lulamba happened to win at Kempton on Saturday I could see him being much shorter for the Triumph given his trainer and colours, so at 10-1 earlier this week with bet365 if seemed like the right time to put him up as one of my selections on Upping The Ante.
David Jennings

Triumph Hurdle latest betting

bet365: 4 Lulamba, 13-2 East India Dock, 7 Hello Neighbour, 10 Lady Vega Allen, 12 Sainte Lucie, 20 Palladium, 25 Mondo Man, Charlus, Coeur D’Amour, 33 bar

Also at Kempton: Pic D'Orhy takes on three and full field declared for the Lanzarote

Pic D'Orhy: bidding to win a second Silviniaco Conti ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Sauvignon's owner Johnny de la Hey will also be represented by Pic D'Orhy in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase (2.42).

The ten-year-old chased home subsequent King George winner Banbridge in the Grade 2 last year and attempts to go one better to regain his crown in a race he won in 2023. 

Pic D'Orhy's trainer Nicholls also runs Hitman with last year's Grand Annual winner Unexpected Party and Martator, whose six-timer bid was ended when third at this track in the Desert Orchid Handicap Chase, completing the line-up.

Dan Skelton has a trio of chances as he bids for a third successive Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (3.18). Skelton, who has won the £100,000 handicap for the last two seasons with West Balboa and Jay Jay Reilly, runs Santos Blue, Punta Del Este and West To The Bridge in a full field of 20 runners.

James Bowen keeps the ride on the Henderson-trained Impose Toi, who he steered to victory at Newbury last time, with Nico de Boinville set to partner his course-and-distance-winning stablemate Doddiethegreat.

Silviniaco Conti Chase (2.42 Kempton, Saturday)

Coral: 4-9 Pic d’Orhy, 5 Martator, Hitman, 25 Unexpected Party

Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (3.18 Kempton, Saturday)

Coral: 6 Impose Toi, 7 Beat The Bat, 8 Jipcot, Knight Of Allen, 10 Il Va De Soi, 11 Doddiethegreat, 14 Dargiannini, Kamsinas, Punta Del Este, 16 Georgi Girl, Good Luck Charm, 18 Spirit D’Aunou, 20 Aston Martini, Plaisir Des Flos, Titan Discovery, West To The Bridge, 25 Firestream, Stolen Silver, 33 Dans Le Vent, 40 Santos Blue

Handstands heads Grade 2 Towton entries

Handstands could bid for back-to-back Grade 2 victories after the Esher Novices' Chase winner was one of nine entered in Saturday's DragonBet Towton Novices' Chase (1.15). The Towton is traditionally staged at Wetherby but was moved to Ffos Las's additional fixture after Wetherby's weekend meeting was lost on Wednesday.

Handstands: could run at Ffos Las on SaturdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Handstands had been entered for Warwick's TrustATrader Hampton Novices' Chase on the same day along with Cherie D'Am, but that option was taken away when the Classic Chase card was cancelled on Thursday morning.

Handstands' trainer Ben Pauling has also entered Personal Ambition with Karuma Grey, an 100-1 winner at this track last month, Hillcrest and Resplendent Grey other notable potential participants.

Declarations for the £40,000 event must be made by 10am on Friday.

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