Lulamba turned the tables on his Cheltenham Competition conqueror Poniros to land the Ballymore Champion 4 12 months Outdated Hurdle at Punchestown.
So spectacular on his British debut at Ascot, Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba seemed set to observe up within the Triumph Hurdle after getting the higher of a protracted battle with East India Dock. However each had been caught late by the Willie Mullins-trained 100-1 shot Poniros, who was making his hurdling debut.
Lulamba was an 11-10 favorite to precise his revenge on Irish soil and provides Henderson and jockey James Bowen a great addition following Structure Hill’s disappointing run within the Boodles Champion Hurdle simply over 24 hours earlier – and finally did so in good model.
At all times near the tempo, Lulamba led Poniros into the house straight and completed strongly from the ultimate flight to win the rematch by 4 lengths, with Hiya Neighbour a close-up third.
Lulamba was offering house owners Joe and Marie Donnelly with their second Grade One winner of the week following State Man’s victory over Structure Hill on Friday.
Henderson mentioned: “These are large days, it has been an enormous week and a terrific week for the Donnelly household. Two winners like that’s fairly particular.
“We tried to get in the way yesterday, it was a bitter pill, but well done them. Now we’ve done it together.”
He added: “This is a fantastic place, we love it. This is a proper horse for another day. He deserves it as much as everybody.
“I would not say he was unfortunate to not win in Cheltenham, he could not do something about it on the time and we received a little bit of revenge there.
“He is a beautiful horse for the longer term, you would not be shocked if he did not come again over fences subsequent 12 months. I do not know, it is early days and it is solely the fourth race of his life.
“He’s a big baby to be doing juvenile hurdles against Flat horses, so fair credit to him.”
Of Structure Hill, Henderson mentioned: “He’s OK. He’s a bit sore, but he’s fine.
“He is received an extended summer season in entrance of him, he’ll be again.”
