Expert Analysis

Prior to the race, this looked a top-class renewal despite only four runners taking part. It did not disappoint as Be Aware set a searching gallop in the early stages and maintained his position in front right up until the second last fence. From there to the line it was all about Lulamba who looked a very classy recruit to the chasing game. It is difficult to compare him with the likes of Kopek Des Bordes, Romeo Coolio and July Flower at this early stage of the season; nonetheless, for now Lulamba can be counted as being comfortably the best two-mile novice chaser trained in Britain.

LULAMBA He was big and slow at the first fence and slightly less so at the next; however, from thereon in his jumping was of the highest order before he ran out a very comfortable winner of what looked a high-class renewal of the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase, which was also run at a very fast pace compared with the Tingle Creek.

BE AWARE He set an extremely fast pace in the early stages of the race and was a long way clear of Jonbon when comparing the pair from their first fence to the first down the back. I think we need to be a little cautious when comparing times as there was an hour between the two races and it rained during that period of time. Moreover, the chase course would have been more cut up by the time the five runners set off for the Tingle Creek. This was still another excellent effort in defeat to add to his last time out performance when chasing home July Flower at Cheltenham. He has probably come up against two novice chasers who are both near to the top of the pecking order in the two mile novice chase division.

LUMP SUM He did eventually stay on up the hill after struggling to stay with the pace setter for most of the race. Perhaps he is a little flattered to finish next to Be Aware who probably paid a price for trying to stay with the easy winner. He apparently heads to Windsor next for a race in the middle of January where the likely softer ground should play to his strengths.

ALNILAM After appearing to be still travelling perfectly well he made a race ending mistake at the middle of the three Railway Fences. I would suggest we need to be a little careful when judging the merits of inexperienced novice chasers, as Alnilam jumped extremely well round Cheltenham last time out and he is just as likely as any of his three rivals to be the one to put in a clear round next time.