Lulamba made a winning start to his chasing career with a success in the Royal Oak, Heavitree "Chasing Excellence" Beginners' Chase at Exeter.

After achieving a five-length victory in the Prix Isopani at Auteuil in October 2024 for trainer Arnaud Chaille-Chaille, Lulamba attracted the attention of bloodstock agent Jerry McGrath and was purchased for the Donnelly family. He was an easy winner in January on his UK debut for new handler Nicky Henderson, before finishing a neck second in the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The exciting French recruit made amends in the Grade 1 Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle at Punchestown, reversing the form with Poniros, and his chasing debut has been eagerly anticipated by National Hunt fans.

In a five-runner Exeter field, Lulamba was always prominent under jockey Nico de Boinville and made little errors, jumping to the fore by the fourth-last fence and pulling easily clear to win by ten lengths over the useful Fingle Bridge.

In an interview with Racing TV, de Boinville said: "It was all fairly smooth!

"I was probably one of the only ones who was disappointed that the fences down the back were omitted. We came here to educate him and the more fences they jump in public, the better.

"He's fresh and well. He's not slow, but you can see from the way he jumps, he could go further. He's very clean and makes a lovely shape over his fences, rather than a hurdling type.

"I think he's going to be a horse that rewards you in time, as long as you're patient and picking your battles."

Despite earning 3/1 quotes with Paddy Power for the two-mile Arkle Trophy Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the option to step up in trip remains open for Lulamba.

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Leading novice hurdler Kopek Des Bordes made a smooth transition to fences with an easy victory in the Pat Sheils Memorial Irish EBF Beginners Chase at Navan.

Bred in France, the Willie Mullins-trained gelding remained unbeaten on his first three starts over hurdles, including success in the Grade 1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Well-beaten at Punchestown over a month later, it was deemed the gelding had not shown his true running but would still transition to fences for the 2025/26 season.

On his chasing debut, the son of No Risk At All was always keen in the early stages and found himself in the lead after the fourth fence under jockey Paul Townend, with a clean display of jumping. He was gently eased following the eighth, coming home the easy thirteen length victor.

Townend said: "He didn't do a whole lot wrong. He had respect for his fences, when he saw them, he wanted to attack them without doing any stupid. I think he learnt a lot but when I let him on down the home straight, that's the fun part.

"He takes a little more riding than some, he's a two-miler who attacks and the engine is there. I'm excited to be on his back, wherever he goes."