Envoi Allen Bidding For Third Win In Down Royal Feature
Envoi Allen might remain in the golden of his career at the age of 11, however optimism is high in the Cheveley Park camp that their popular veteran can bag himself a 3rd victory in the BetVictor Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday.
It is six and a half years considering that Envoi Allen broke his Grade One duck in the Champion Bumper, the very first of 3 triumphs at Cheltenham Festival while his total top-level tally stands at 9.
There have been one or 2 bumps in the road along the way, but Henry de Bromhead's charge has been near irreproachable in the first Grade One of the Irish dives season in each of the past three seasons, with triumphes in 2022 and 2024 sandwiching a neck-long defeat at the hands of Gerri Colombe in 2023.
He has actually been off the track because finishing third in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in March and Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson is thrilled to see him go back to a happy hunting ground this weekend.
He said: "He's been a fantastic horse, what a journey he's taken us on.
"He's won 9 Grade Ones and is a three-time Cheltenham winner.
Envoi Allen winning last year ´ s Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Brian Lawless/PA)
"This will most likely be his last season, I would guess, so let's how he runs on Saturday and go from there.
"He has had one or 2 down days, however there have actually been a lot more great days than bad. Even the times he's been beaten at Cheltenham he's been placed in a Champion Chase and a Ryanair - his CV is just wonderful.
"Henry says he maintains his enthusiasm and if he can get 10 Grade Ones it would be impressive, however as the old stating he goes he owes us nothing."
Spillane's Tower is a notable non-runner due to unsuitable ground while Gordon Elliott also ruled out Stellar Story.
He still saddles the returning Found A Fifty, Galway Plate and PWC Champion Chase winner Western Fold, with the field finished by Noel Meade's Affordale Fury and Keith Watson's rank outsider Flash Collonges.
