A MASSIVE gamble is forming on Nicky Henderson’s ‘impressive’ next superstar ahead of his debut run.
Punters have been piling into the French recruit for the Triumph Hurdle at March’s Cheltenham Festival.
William Hill reported a ‘sea of support’ for the four-year-old, owned by Joe and Marie Donnelly.
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And those odds will get shorter again if he bolts up at Kempton on Saturday.
While Palladium, the £1.2million world-record purchase, was all the rage at Seven Barrows a few weeks ago, attention has now turned to Lulamba.
He raced just once in France under esteemed trainer Arnauld Chaille-Chaille, winning a 2m2f hurdle on heavy by five lengths.
Lulamba was snapped up the Donnellys after that and the first step of his journey to potential Cheltenham victory is set to come on Saturday.
But regardless of whether racing goes ahead there or not amid the freezing cold snap, punters are keen to have him on-side for the Triumph.
By SAM MORGAN
There’s no doubt that, currently, Lulamba is being backed purely on hype and the absolute desperation of some to get a price.
As things stand there is no way he deserves to be so close in the betting to Triumph market leaders East India Dock and Hello Neighbour.
The former won the Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham by 18 lengths when last seen.
While Hello Neighbour is unbeaten in three and won his latest, also a Grade 2, despite jumping poorly. He has a serious engine.
It’s nigh-on impossible to know what Lulamba was even beating in his Prix Isopani win, with so many of the horses in that race not having run again.
At least the favourite that day, Lanivtsi, won next time out. That can be taken as a positive.
Constitution Hill and Sir Gino were hammered in the betting before they won at Christmas – word obviously got out they were in form.
Maybe the same is happening with Lulamba. Stable whispers travel fast.
In my opinion, there’s currently no need to take the 6-1 about Lulamba for the Triumph.
Wait until he runs here to see what he can do – or just wait until the day.
Lulamba’s price has collapsed in recent days, going from 12-1 to 6-1 with Hills.
Spokesperson Lee Phelps said: “Nicky Henderson’s new French recruit, Lulamba, has seen significant support in the Triumph Hurdle market with the highly-touted hurdler cut to 6-1 from 12-1.
“We added the juvenile hurdler to the market alongside our ‘Non-Runner Money Back’ offer for the Cheltenham Festival on New Year’s Day and we’ve seen a sea of support ever since.
“Owners Joe and Marie Donnelly are no strangers to a top-class hurdler and all eyes will be on his entry at Kempton on Saturday.
“With a previous win on heavy ground at Auteuil, the forecast conditions shouldn’t pose a problem.
“This race will give us a clearer idea of whether he can truly challenge the current market leaders, James Owen’s East India Dock and Hello Neighbour, trained by William Hill Ambassador Gavin Cromwell, with that pair both priced at 7-2.”
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