Henderson happy with Lulamba but does respect East India Dock

Nicky Henderson believes Lulamba draws comparisons to stable star Sir Gino as he looks to celebrate a record-extending eighth success in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday.

The Seven Barrows handler has a brilliant history in the juvenile championship, starting 40 years ago with First Bout.

Alone Success (1987), Katarino (1999), Zaynar (2009), Soldatino (2010), Peace And Co (2015) and Pentland Hills (2019) have all entered the winner’s enclosure alongside Henderson over the intervening years, and he has every chance of adding to his list.

Lulamba, who like Sir Gino is owned by Joe and Marie Donnelly, arrives at the Festival with an unbeaten record after winning on his debut at Ascot for the six-time champion trainer in January.

Henderson anticipates a tussle with James Owen’s East India Dock, but hopes he has a horse who is “in the Sir Gino mould”.

“In the future, I do think Lulamba will have the ‘X’ factor, but he’s only had two runs in his life coming into a race like this,” said Henderson, who had to rule the luckless Sir Gino out of last year’s Triumph and also this week’s Arkle Trophy.

“He’s a big, scopey horse who you could easily see jumping a fence next year like we switched Sir Gino. He’s in the Sir Gino mould.

“He might not have the pace of Sir Gino at the moment, but he has a great constitution and does everything nicely.

“I do respect East India Dock and he’s been very impressive. I think he’ll be there over the last two and maybe we will be following him.”

Henderson was set for a two-pronged attack in the opener on day four before Palladium, the German Derby winner who cost his new connections €1.4million, was ruled out on Tuesday.

Palladium, in the colours of Lady Bamford, whose family sponsor the Triumph, made a winning hurdling debut at Huntingdon in January and was due to be ridden by champion jockey Harry Cobden, but was “quite sore” on the morning of his withdrawal.

East India Dock, the only horse with course and distance pedigree in the race, is looking to make it four wins out of four over hurdles for Owen and owners the Gredley family, who sent out Burdett Road to be a shock second at 66-1 in Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle.

The son of Golden Horn has been mightily impressive since switching to obstacles, winning by four lengths at Wincanton on his hurdling debut in October.

He supported that with an 18-length triumph around the Old course in November before coasting to victory over Stencil by 10 lengths on the New course in January.

“He’s in good order, form’s strong and we can’t wait until Friday really – really looking forward to it,” Owen said.

“He’s won on the Old course and the New course, he’s not ground dependent. He’s exciting.

“I’d say there’s quite a few threats, the Irish have a couple as well (as Henderson’s runner). But listen, we are concentrating on our horse and couldn’t be happier with him.”

Dublin Racing Festival Grade One winner Hello Neighbour lines up for Gavin Cromwell, while Willie Mullins has 11 chances, with stable jockey Paul Townend opting to partner Lady Vega Allen.

Mondo Man will renew his Ascot rivalry with Lulamba for Gary and Josh Moore, while Haydock scorer Gibbs Islands risks his perfect record for Tom Lacey.

Further British representation is formed by Owen’s second runner Opec and Jamie Snowden’s Marche d’Aligre.