Recent rain at Haldon Hill resulted in the racing being near perfect to mild, meaning a small but select field of six runners was declared for the Royal Oak, Heavitree “Chasing Excellence” Beginners' Chase.
Normally the prospect of a Grade 1 winner like Lulamba would put off opponents – but the start to the National Hunt season has been so disrupted that he will have to face some pretty serious opponents.
Topping the list is Gary and Josh Moore's Salver, rated 148, who was placed in two Grade 2 competitions last season, Fergal O'Brien's Tripoli Flyer, winner of the Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at Kempton, and Olly Murphy's Fingal Bridge, who is unbeaten in four disciplines.
It would also be foolish to dismiss Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm's 'Stencil', who hails from France and had a big reputation last season, and while Dan Skelton's Largy Belter appears to have plenty left to find, nothing from this team can be dismissed with confidence.
“It's exciting to put him out on the hunt and last season he was unlucky not to win a Triumph Hurdle,” said Henderson.
“He was very good at it (fencing) at home and it seemed obvious to do it, especially because I couldn't see him winning a champion hurdles. He's an absolute up-and-coming chaser.
“It's a great track, Exeter. You'd buy it as a racecourse to give beginners a chance to chase and train them around.
“It’s the perfect place for him and there are some nice horses there so he’ll get a check-up.”
He added: “You don't want to do more than two miles the first time, but if you want to do two and a half miles in the future you can do that.
“Let’s see, he was very good over two miles last season when he should have been a two-time first grade winner.”