Nicky Henderson setback as gigantic Cheltenham gamble Lulamba’s debut is abandoned at Kempton
THE wait to see Nicky Henderson’s gigantic Cheltenham Festival gamble Lulamba will go on – after Kempton abandoned their Saturday card.
The Seven Barrows boss’ four-year-old has been absolutely obliterated from 25-1 to 4-1 for the Triumph Hurdle.
And he was all the rage for his intended debut at the Surrey track too.
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But with freezing temperatures decimating the jumps action this week – and Lingfield’s all-weather card being abandoned on Friday – the decision was taken early to cut Kempton’s action.
Lulamba, who is owned by Joe and Marie Donnelly of Sir Gino and State Man fame, has no other immediate entries.
A statement from Kempton read: “Racing on Saturday, January 11 has sadly been abandoned due to frozen ground after this morning’s inspection.
“With overnight temperatures dropping to -6.5C, a forecast of temperatures to drop to -2C tonight and no temperatures above 2C forecast for the next two days, we have taken the unfortunate decision to abandon.”
Lulamba, who won his sole race by five lengths at Auteuil last October, would have been lining up against Paul Nicholls’ much-fancied Sauvignon.
Speaking on the Nick Luck Daily podcast, Henderson urged a bit of caution to those still rushing to get a price on Lulamba.
The trainer, who also has £1.2million world-record purchase Palladium at his yard, said: “It’s hard to tell what he’s beat and though he did it nicely in France, you have no idea what was in there.
“He’s a very nice, straightforward, scopey animal.”
On comparisons to Sir Gino, he said: “Sir Gino was always very freaky, very speedy from the word go – they’re pretty different.”
Asked if Lulamba was more a chaser in time than burning up the gallop, he said: “Yes.”
Coral have been hammered by the amount of cash whacked on Lulamba.
The firm’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 price has absolutely collapsed.”
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