Envoi Allen Bidding For Third Win In Down Royal Feature
Envoi Allen might be in the twilight 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 third victory in the BetVictor Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday.
It is 6 and a half years given that Envoi Allen broke his Grade One duck in the Champion Bumper, the first of three victories at Cheltenham Festival while his total top-level at 9.
There have actually been a couple of bumps in the road along the method, however Henry de Bromhead's charge has actually been near perfect in the very first Grade Among the Irish jumps season in each of the past 3 seasons, with victories in 2022 and 2024 sandwiching a neck-long defeat at the hands of Gerri Colombe in 2023.
He has been off the track since finishing third in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in March and Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson is delighted to see him return to a pleased hunting ground this weekend.
He stated: "He's been a fantastic horse, what a journey he's taken us on.
"He's won nine Grade Ones and is a three-time Cheltenham Festival winner.
Envoi Allen winning last year ´ s Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Brian Lawless/PA)
"This will probably be his last season, I would think, so let's how he runs on Saturday and go from there.
"He has had a couple of down days, however there have been a lot more good 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 great.
"Henry says he keeps his enthusiasm and if he can get 10 Grade Ones it would be exceptional, but as the old stating he goes he owes us absolutely nothing."
Spillane's Tower is a notable non-runner due to unsuitable ground while Gordon Elliott also eliminated Stellar Story.
He still saddles the returning Found A Fifty, Galway Plate and PWC Champion Chase winner Western Fold, with the field completed by Noel Meade's Affordale Fury and Keith Watson's rank outsider Flash Collonges.