Lulamba (2-5 Favourite) made the best possible start to his chasing career at Exeter today when coming home the comfortable winner of the Royal Oak, Heavitree "Chasing Excellence" Beginners' Chase over an extended two miles and a furlong.

Last season the Marie Donnelly-owned four-year-old won at Ascot in January before going down by a neck to Poniros in the Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle at The Cheltenham Festival in March. He then reversed form with that rival when landing the Grade One Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown.

Reunited with jockey Nico de Boinville, today the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding raced in third of the five runners before going to the front four fences from home. He then drew away from the field and at the finish had 10 lengths to spare over runner-up Fingle Bridge (7-1).

Nico de Boinville said: “It was all fairly smooth, I think. I was one of the only ones who were a bit disappointed the fences were out down the back (four of the scheduled 12 fences were omitted due to low sun) but so be it. We came here to educate him and the more fences they jump in public, the better.

“He is fresh and well, and he wouldn’t blow out a candle there.

“He is not slow, but you can see from the way he jumps that he could definitely go further. He is very clean and makes a lovely shape over his fences – more in the realm of a horse like Ballyburn than a hurdler type.

“I think he is going to be a horse that will reward you in time by being patient and picking your battles well.

“They've gone a nice enough gallop today. We were still fairly well bunched turning in and then it was a bit more of a sprint for home.

“It’s lovely ground and the fences were lovely – I just wish there had been a more of them!”

(Photo Credit: Francesca Altoft Photography/The Jockey Club)