Lulamba and Palladium both ‘super’ in Kempton workouts

Nicky Henderson has no regrets about bypassing the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle with both Lulamba and Palladium as the duo made a belated appearance at Kempton Park on Tuesday to complete their JCB Triumph Hurdle preparations.

The star juvenile pair were both among the entries for last weekend’s Grade Two contest, with Henderson stating at his pre-Cheltenham Festival press morning that he was considering banking further experience with high-class French import and leading Triumph fancy Lulamba.

He had also highlighted the race as on the agenda for Palladium after the €1.4million purchase scored at Huntingdon on his hurdles bow but neither took their place in the final line-up for the Adonis, with Henderson feeling he made the right call considering conditions they would have faced.

Lulamba worked over two miles with Captain Morgs and Stayers’ Hurdle hope Lucky Place, while Palladium covered the same distance in company with East India Express and 141-rated Impose Toi, with Henderson more than satisfied by their efforts.

He said: “I thought both the juveniles were super. If I’d have brought them here (on Saturday), I don’t think I’d have run them. I’d have pulled them out on the day.

“Lulamba is a bit more like Sir Gino and the colt, Palladium, is beautiful and he will be going Flat racing. He’s just a gorgeous horse and he really enjoyed that.

“He’s going to run in the Triumph and then that will be it.”

Nico de Boinville partnered Lulamba, with James Bowen getting the leg-up on Palladium, although Henderson insisted nothing should be read into the gallop riding arrangements with Cheltneham in mind.

He said: “We’re in the position that everybody had ridden everything and they have done at home. We’ve not got that far in discussions yet.”

Lucky Place has won each of his two starts this term and will be stepping up to Grade One company for his Stayers’ date after finishing fourth in the Coral Cup at last year’s Festival.

He was ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies in his gallop, with the jockey having partnered his father Nigel’s Festival hope Gowel Road to finish second to Lucky Place last month.

Henderson added: “I was very pleased with Lucky Place. I’ve always loved him. He’s very laid-back and just a really nice person. I put Sam on him so he could go back and tell his horse Gowel Road, just remind him what the horse will look like in front!”

Henderson said De Boinville was “over the moon” with Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase runner Mister Coffey as he came out on top in his three-horse gallop, while confirming Jango Baie as an intended Arkle runner in the place of the sidelined Sir Gino.

The Seven Barrow handler also offered an update on Sir Gino, who has been in an equine hospital battling an infection in his hind leg for the last two weeks.

He said: “He’s off the intravenous antibiotics, they’ve take the catheter out, and he’s now on orals. They’re saying if he can maintain on that, it’s a step forward. It’s a brutal thing, it’s very unpleasant.”