Cheltenham Festival: Lulamba cements Arkle favouritism with Game Spirit Chase victory at Newbury

Lulamba cemented his position at the head of the betting for the Arkle at Cheltenham when ultimately running out a convincing winner against his elders in the William Hill Game Spirit Chase at Newbury.

Nicky Henderson was keen to get more experience into his five-year-old having had just the two runs over fences to date and while one of those came in Grade One novice company, it looks a shrewd decision now.

Early on Lulamba took time to warm to his task and was jumping big, causing him to lose his position.

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By halfway Nico de Boinville had got him on to the heels of the leaders Saint Segal and Master Chewy, but he was being pushed along turning in.

At the top of the straight, though, the 4/11 favourite clicked into overdrive and put in some of his best leaps.

De Boinville did not have to get too serious with him as he beat Saint Segal by six and a half lengths.

Paddy Power cut him to 11/8 from 6/4 for the Arkle but Coral were more impressed and make him their even money favourite.

Henderson said: "The reason he was here was because he needed the practice as he got none at Exeter and then was great at Sandown, but when you are jumping round with those older horses here you are jumping half a gear faster and that is what he will have to do at Cheltenham.

"He will go further without a shadow of a doubt and I don't think that is his ground even though I was surprised by how it was. Nico and I walked round this morning and we were perfectly happy to run, but he must be better on good ground and I do think he will jump better on good ground.

"He's a horse who loves life and despite the ground I think he has really enjoyed himself and I liked the way he quickened up from the second last, the gears work.

"You can see what we were trying to do, he didn't need the race but he needed the experience and it is against those older horses who can go a proper good gallop when you learn - they teach you a bit and you have to jump that little stride quicker.

"It can take him time to warm up and he was the same at Sandown and it was once he got down into the back straight there that he latched on.

"He's got lots of scope and there is plenty of time for a little bit of practice. His jumping has a little bit of finessing to come, but that will be there I hope, come the second Tuesday in March."