BOOKIES think Nicky Henderson has a ‘big decision to make’ after huge Triumph Hurdle favourite Lulamba was entered in another race.
The awesome four-year-old could not have been more impressive when scooting up at Ascot last weekend.
He gave 10lbs and a decent beating to £500,000 former Flat horse Mondo Man.
Lulamba, owned by Joe and Marie Donnelly of Sir Gino, Salvator Mundi and State Man fame, was slashed to 6-4 fav for the Triumph on the back of that.
But Henderson has warned not everything is set in stone with the horse just yet.
And he raised eyebrows when entering the horse for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – where the Willie Mullins-trained Salvator Mundi is currently the 3-1 fav.
Henderson told Unibet the Triumph remains the plan for Lulamba ‘at the moment’ – but admitted things could change.
He said: “Lulamba put in a crazy performance at Ascot. You couldn’t see how he would give 10lbs to a horse rated 111 on the Flat.
“He’s had one run over hurdles in his life!
“But it was still a pretty good performance and the way he did it was so professional.
“The Triumph is part of the plan at the moment but there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge.
“This time last year it all looked easy but we never even got there.
“But that’s the idea.”
Coral make Lulamba 16-1 for the Festival-opening Supreme and the firm’s John Hill said: “Salvator Mundi tops the betting to get Willie Mullins off to a winning start in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, a race he has won a record seven times.
“Lulamba is a warm favourite for the Triumph Hurdle but with an entry also in the Supreme, connections may have a big decision to make over which race he lines up in.”
Henderson could yet have another rocket for the Triumph.
His world-record £1.2million purchase Palladium was declared to run on Thursday ahead of a tilt at the Festival juvenile race.