Lulamba Follows Altior's Path: Does the Game Spirit-Arkle Double Still Work?

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:15:00 +0000

Lulamba kept his unbeaten record over fences intact with a six-and-a-half length win in the William Hill Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday, but it was the way he won that caught the eye — and the way he matches a pattern that has produced two of the greatest two-mile chasers of the modern era.

Nico de Boinville’s mount was giving weight to seasoned handicappers, jumped sketchily at times on the heavy ground, and was even off the bridle turning in. Yet when the serious business started between the third and second last, he found lengths his rivals simply couldn’t match. The market has reacted accordingly: Lulamba is now 11/8 favourite for the Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival.

Game Spirit on The Race Lab

Lulamba Follows Altior's Path: Does the Game Spirit-Arkle Double Still Work?